Exploring beyond Earth using space robotics

Abstract

Robotic spacecraft enable exploration of our Solar System beyond our human presence. Although spacecraft have explored every planet in the Solar System, the frontiers of space robotics are at the cutting edge of landers, rovers, and now atmospheric explorers, where robotic spacecraft must interact intimately with their environment to explore beyond the reach of flyby and orbital remote sensing. Here, we describe the tremendous growth in space robotics missions in the past 7 years, with many new entities participating in missions to the surface of the Moon, Mars, and beyond. We also describe the recent development of aerial missions to planets and moons, as exemplified by the Ingenuity helicopter on Mars and the Dragonfly mission to Titan. We focus on suborbital robotics—landers, rovers, and aerial vehicles—with associated challenges in sensing, manipulation, mobility, and system-level autonomy.