Publikation
PRO-ACT: Planetary Robots Deployed For Assembly And Construction of Future Lunar ISRU and Supporting Infrastructure
Shashank Govindaraj; Jeremi Gancet; Diego Urbina; Wiebke Brinkmann; Nabil Aouf; Simon Lacroix; Mateusz Wolski; Francisco Colmenero; Michael Walshe; Cristina Ortega; Balazs Bodo
In: In proceedings of 15th Symposium on Advanced Space Technologies in Robotics and Automation (ASTRA 2019). ESA/Estec Symposium on Advanced Space Technologies in Robotics and Automation (ASTRA-2019), May 27-28, Noordwijk, Netherlands, 2019.
Zusammenfassung
The world’s space agencies, including ESA have been considering various strategies, architectures and mission concepts to explore the solar system in the frame of international cooperation. There is a consensus in that the lunar vicinity is the most appropriate next step for sustainable exploration. Key principles in said exploration are affordability, exploration value, partnerships, capability evolution, human/robotic partnership and robustness. Private sector interest in lunar exploration and resource utilization is also on the rise. In-Situ Resource Utilisation (ISRU) enables sustainability in space exploration through the harnessing of resources that are available in space in order to create products and services for robotic exploration, human exploration, and for commercial purposes. PRO-ACT aims to demonstrate the capability of using autonomous robots working collaboratively to assemble an ISRU plant on the moon and supporting equipment.