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ESA marks first steps of new robot in space

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While the world eagerly awaits the launch of a spacecraft to the Moon, a robot quietly reaches yet another milestone in space. The newest robotic arm outside the International Space Station woke up, stretched and moved a payload effortlessly from one side to the other of the Nauka science module.

The European Robotic Arm (ERA) successfully completed the first transfer following commands from cosmonauts inside the Space Station last week. Teams in Moscow, Russia and at ESA’s control room in the Netherlands monitored the moves, where the image above was taken by the European team on console on 24 August.

This first motion involved unleashing the payload – a single pin latch and its adapter for the cosmonaut support tool – from Nauka, moving it to the other side of the module and then installing it back to the original position. [Read more…] about ESA marks first steps of new robot in space

Airbus to develop ‘Moon Cruiser’ concept for ESA

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Aerospace giant Airbus has been awarded a CLTV (Cis-Lunar Transfer Vehicle) study for a “Moon Cruiser” by the European Space Agency (ESA).

According to the study concept (two parallel Phase A/B1), the CLTV is a versatile, autonomous logistics vehicle that could, for example, provide timely and efficient support to NASA and ESA in the implementation of the future Artemis Moon missions.

The spacecraft will be based on existing and proven technologies and will complement the multipurpose European Large Logistic Lander (EL3). [Read more…] about Airbus to develop ‘Moon Cruiser’ concept for ESA

Space robotics market predicted to grow to $5.7 billion by 2027

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The global space robotics market size is expected to reach $5.71 billion by 2027, registering a compound annual growth rate of 5.2 percent from 2020 to 2027, according to a new report by Grand View Research. 

Space robotics is gaining traction in recent years owing to the growing exploration of outer space; the need for operations and maintenance of satellites, space stations, and other platforms; and the need for saving cost and mitigating safety issues.

Furthermore, the rising trend of using autonomous systems and artificial intelligence technology in robotics is widening the horizon of space exploration. [Read more…] about Space robotics market predicted to grow to $5.7 billion by 2027

European Space Agency to launch robot to clean up space

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The European Space Agency is planning to send a robot out into space to clean it of debris, which mainly consists of the countless satellites sent into orbit over the past few decades.

The vast majority of these “junk” satellites – communications, weather, military – have operational lifetimes lasting a few years – about five to 10 years, after which there is no system for bringing them back or clear them in any way. (See simulation of space debris around Earth below.)

Some have previously proposed to build robots that can travel to those obsolete satellites to perhaps fix them or make use of them somehow or at least maintain them so they are operational for longer, but that is an idea that is still in development, although also mentioned as part of ESA’s plan. [Read more…] about European Space Agency to launch robot to clean up space

European Space Agency now offers satellite-driven car parking services

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The European Space Agency is now offering satellite-driven car parking services as a result of a partnership with a startup company called Parkbob.

Parkbob teamed up with ESA Business Applications to develop an architecture for satellite-driven availability parking services in smart cities.

Their collaboration through an ESA Kickstart activity as part of the Integrated Applications program, will demonstrate the added value that satellite brings in the context of advanced digital last-mile solutions.  [Read more…] about European Space Agency now offers satellite-driven car parking services

Fugitive robot found holed up on comet. Scientists demand the truth

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philae esa

An escaped space robot has been found holed up inside a cave on a comet after going on the run for more than a year. 

Philae, a tiny robotic spacecraft, was sent by the European Space Agency as part of the Rosetta mission.

Philae was designed to autonomously explore and send back data to the main Rosetta spacecraft, but it apparently ran off and scientists have not been able to find it until now.

Matt Taylor, ESA’s Rosetta project scientist, is quoted by CNN as saying: “This wonderful news means that we now have the missing ‘ground-truth’ information needed to put Philae’s three days of science into proper context, now that we know where that ground actually is.”

Full story on CNN

ESA and Russians send robots to sniff out alien methane on Mars

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Launch of seven-month mission to Mars
Launch of multi-year mission to find methane-releasing aliens on Mars

Two robotic spacecraft have blasted off from the spaceport in Kazakhstan on their seven-month journey to Mars.

A scientist close to the project says one of the craft will be “like a big nose in space”, looking to sniff out the locations of aliens by detecting methane, according to a report on IOL.

The joint-mission is the result of collaboration between the European Space Agency (ESA) and Russia’s Roscosmos.

This is the first of two joint ESA-Roscosmos missions. Another similar mission to the “Red Planet” is planned for 2018.  [Read more…] about ESA and Russians send robots to sniff out alien methane on Mars