All articles tagged with #space robotics
A robotics scholar predicts that Elon Musk's plans to send Optimus humanoid robots to Mars will likely face reliability issues and short operational lifespans, similar to past space robots like NASA's Robonaut 2, emphasizing the need for further technological advancements and testing on closer celestial bodies like the Moon before Mars missions.
SpaceX's Dragon capsule returned from the ISS with 6,700 pounds of advanced equipment, including materials tested for durability, robotic systems for satellite servicing, innovative space imaging technology, and educational materials, highlighting significant advancements in space exploration, technology, and education.
SpaceX's Dragon capsule returned from the ISS carrying 6,700 pounds of advanced technology, including space durability materials, innovative robots for satellite servicing, enhanced imaging systems, and educational materials to inspire future scientists, highlighting significant advancements in space exploration and technology.
The European Space Agency is developing Olympus, a next-generation legged robot designed to navigate and explore the rugged terrain of Mars, utilizing advanced machine learning to adapt to unknown environments, potentially serving as a vital tool for future human missions and scientific discoveries on the Red Planet.
The ESA has tested a four-legged robot named Olympus in simulated Martian gravity, demonstrating its ability to jump and navigate challenging terrain, which could enhance future Mars exploration by accessing difficult areas like lava tubes and caverns.
China has completed a simulated lunar underground environment in a volcanic lava cave on Earth to test robotic exploration and study lunar lava tubes, which could provide natural shielding on the Moon and Mars, supporting future missions including China's Chang'e 7 and the planned International Lunar Research Station.
SpaceX has evolved its plan for a human colony on Mars from initial concepts in 2017 to detailed designs featuring modular habitats, underground living spaces, and a bustling city with robotics support, aiming to establish a self-sustaining human presence on the Red Planet.
Astrobotic's Peregrine lunar lander, launched aboard the first flight of Vulcan, suffered a propellant leak, making a soft landing on the moon impossible. The craft still has 40 hours of fuel left to operate as a spacecraft while engineers determine its new mission in orbit. Despite facing propulsion and battery issues, the team is working to extend Peregrine's operational life and receiving data for its next lunar lander mission.
Astrobotic Technology's Peregrine lunar lander, launched aboard the first flight of the Vulcan rocket, encountered a propulsion system issue, jeopardizing the first U.S. soft lunar landing attempt in over 50 years. The faulty system is causing propellant loss, making a moon landing unlikely. The mission was crucial for ULA's Vulcan rocket, developed to rival SpaceX's Falcon 9, and for Astrobotic to fulfill a multibillion-dollar backlog of missions. The incident highlights the challenges of private companies in the renewed international competition for lunar exploration.