ESA-ESRIC Space Resources Challenge 2022

The Moon is the next step for human presence in space.

In order to establish habitats on the moon, it will be necessary to collect the resources that are present and use them in-situ.

Prospecting - the detection of these space resources - is the first step to enable their use. In this context, the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Space Resources Innovation Centre (ESRIC) have asked European space industries and research institutions to develop innovative technologies for the exploration of resources on the Moon in the framework of the ESA-ESRIC Space Resources Challenge.

As part of the challenge, teams of engineers have developed vehicles capable of prospecting for resources in a test-bed simulating the Moon's shaded polar regions. From 5 to 9 September 2022, the final of the ESA-ESRIC Space Resource Challenge took place at the Rockhal in Esch-sur-Alzette. On this occasion, lunar rover prototypes competed on a 1,800 m² 'lunar' terrain.

The winning team will have the opportunity to have their technology implemented on the Moon.