Robots and Space Exploration

From Mars Rovers to Beyond

- By Rahul Roy

From Robby, the Robot in Forbidden Planet, to the infamous C-3PO from Star Wars, the use of robots for space exploration has always intrigued us. However, the concept of robots in space are is no longer confined to the silver screen—it has become a reality today:

Fast-paced technological evolution has dramatically transformed the landscape of space exploration. At the heart of this discovery lies a blend of science, limitless possibilities, and innovation that robotics provides.

Forget just landing on the moon—we can explore even the unchartered realms and venture into the solar system far beyond with robotic tech. Over the past decades, cutting-edge technology has played an integral role in fueling successful space missions—and robotics is rapidly emerging as a crucial component.

Co-operative Autonomous Distributed Robotic Exploration (CADRE)

The Journey From Earth to Space

As long as mankind has explored the cosmos, we have depended on robots. The first-ever robot to explore space was Sputnik 1, sent by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) in 1957. It was an artificial Earth Satellite built to orbit the Earth. And this was just the beginning!

In 1962, the world witnessed the first-of-its-kind robotic space probe, Mariner 2, which completed its flyby across planet Venus. Mariner 4 was the first orbiter that took photos of Mars in 1965. Voyager 1 and 2 were built to conduct proximal studies of Saturn and Jupiter.

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