CHALLENGE-DRIVEN INNOVATION
13 TeamsRacing to Uncover Resources
This week, the Space Resources Challenge is entering its most exciting phase when the teams travel to ESTEC to test their technology on a similated lunar surface.
It is 2028
The European Large Logistic Lander (EL3) just descended in the area between the Shoemaker and Faustini crater in the South Pole region of the Moon.
It has no simple job to do: characterising and locating resources like water and metals.
Measurements need to provide input for the development of an accurate map showing the impact crater a few hundred meters from the lander.
Mission control room will analyse the images (visual & multi-spectral bands) to make a first resource map to guide future missions to the Moon.
Innovation Booster for the Automotive and Mining Industry
The technology that is needed to develop and build autonomous vehicles to navigate on the Moon, shares characteristics with existing vehicles already used on Earth.
The same applies to mining technology that is used to characterise resources on Earth, which could also inspire technology to be used to characterise the Moon’s resources.
By engaging companies from these industries, the innovation-challenge is hoping to foster bidirectional tech-transfer from Earth to Space and back.
Taking existing technology to the Moon is challenging and could not only help prepare future settlements on the Moon, it could also lead to innovations that feed back into how we do things on Earth.
THE EUROPEAN SPACE RESOURCES INNOVATION CENTRE
The internationally recognised centre of expertise for scientific, technical, business and economic aspects related to the use of space resources for human and robotic exploration, as well as for a future in-space economy.
