Students at ETH Zurich University have unveiled a groundbreaking project: a three-legged robot called the SpaceHopper, designed to traverse the surface of asteroids through a series of hops. This innovative robot is poised to play a crucial role in future space missions, particularly in exploring small celestial bodies like asteroids and moons, which may harbor valuable mineral resources and offer insights into the universe’s formation.
The SpaceHopper project originated as a research endeavor for bachelor’s degree students around two and a half years ago. Now, it has evolved into a comprehensive research project led by five master’s students and one doctoral student.
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One of the primary challenges in developing exploration robots for small celestial bodies is the negligible gravity compared to larger planets like Earth. To address this challenge, the researchers conducted tests on the SpaceHopper in zero gravity during a parabolic flight facilitated by the European Space Agency (ESA).
The robot’s ability to navigate and hop across the surface of asteroids could revolutionize space exploration by enabling access to regions that were previously inaccessible. Moreover, the data collected from these missions could deepen our understanding of celestial bodies and potentially unlock valuable resources for future human endeavors beyond Earth.
