A team of undergraduate students from the University of Texas at Austin has won the prestigious Revolutionary Aerospace System Concepts – Academic Linkage (RASC-AL) competition by designing a robotic system to exploit the resources of the asteroid belt. The Autonomous Exploration Through Extraterrestrial Regions (AETHER) project aims to develop an innovative solution for accessing and utilizing the vast resources available in the asteroid belt.
The AETHER team’s design combines a spring-loaded landing system, a metal-burning rocket engine, and a Kilowatt Reactor Using Stirling Technology (KRUSTY) nuclear reactor. The system can harvest water and aluminum from asteroids, split them into usable components, and use these to fuel its next journey. This design also incorporates machine-learning algorithms to improve resource harvesting efforts.
The AETHER system will utilize synthetic aperture radar, spectrometers, and optical communication links to navigate the asteroid belt. Its primary goal is to collect data on specific asteroids, such as Psyche and Themis, before embarking on further exploration. With a potential operating lifespan of over 10 years, the AETHER system could revolutionize our understanding of the asteroid belt’s resources.
The UT Austin team, comprised entirely of undergraduate students, has made significant strides in developing innovative solutions for space exploration challenges. Their work is poised to inspire future generations of engineers and scientists as they explore the vast possibilities of the asteroid belt.
Source: https://www.universetoday.com/170932/spring-loaded-robot-could-explore-the-asteroid-belt-almost-indefinitely