ECSAT-ESTEC robotics demonstration

Engineers are using a satellite link between two European Space Agency facilities to advance teleoperated robotics systems that could enable future lunar explorers to study the Moon from afar.

The connection was established between the European Centre for Space Applications and Telecommunications (ECSAT) in the UK and the European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC) in the Netherlands. It enabled engineers at ECSAT to carry out tasks – such as collecting small rock samples – using a remote-controlled rover with a robotic arm located at ESTEC’s Human Robotic Interaction lab.

This photo features the view from the teleoperation console at ECSAT.