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Space technology goes down to Earth to support mining
 
30 December 2003

CRIS in Canadian mine
RST Radar Systemtechnik AG (RST) used a ground-penetrating radar system, originally developed for ESA for planetary rover applications, to develop CRIS, a system for underground tunnels. CRIS can detect small aperture discontinuities (cracks) near the excavation surfaces, principally in walls and roofs of mineshafts, as shown in this photo taken in a Canadian mine.

Credits: RST Radar Systemtechnik AG
 
 
Space technology in daily life
"ESA's Technology Transfer Programme has led to many uses of space technology in everyday life on Earth," said Head of ESA's Technology Transfer and Promotion Office, Pierre Brisson, at the workshop - Space Technology and the Mining & Minerals Processing Industry - Down to Earth, 26 November 2003

Credits: ESA
 
 
Surface strip mine
 
 
Robots for automation
Head of Robotics and Automation Section in ESA, Gianfranco Visentin, presents space robotics developments for planetary missions at the workshop "Space Technology and the Mining & Minerals Processing Industry - Down to Earth", 26 November 2003

Credits: ESA
 
 
Mining conveyor belt
 
 
Tunnel Boring Machine
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The German company Astro- und Feinwerktechnik Adlershof GmbH has produced new transmitters for Herrenknecht AG mounted on their tunnel boring machine seen above. Every second the transmitters send sound waves into the ground, microphones receive the reflecting signals which are data processed and can visualise important geological changes up to 40 m in front of the rotary shear blade. These innovative transmitters have been developed using the expertise Astro gained during their work for ESA on the Cassini-Huygens spacecraft.

Credits: Herrenknecht AG
 
 
More about...
Down to Earth -
Space technology transfer for mining and minerals industry
Workshop programme
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Related links
ESA's Technology Transfer ProgrammeHarsh Environment InitiativeTechnology ForumT4TECHEUROMINESNESMI
 
 
 
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