25 March 2024
News Release

A powerful package of 3D mapping technology designed by CSIRO, AustraliaÔÇÖs national science agency, has reached the International Space Station (ISS). The technology aims to revolutionize the way astronauts navigate and interact with their environment in space.

Astronauts will fit the device onto Astrobee, a NASA robot platform that roams the station and can assist with a range of tasks. With the integration of this advanced mapping technology, Astrobee will be able to perform its duties more efficiently and accurately.

CSIRO Research Group Leader, Dr Marc Elmouttie, highlighted the significance of the payload in creating detailed three-dimensional maps of the orbiting laboratory. He emphasized the potential for this technology to enhance the daily operations and safety of astronauts aboard the ISS.

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The device combines two CSIRO technologies ÔÇô Stereo-Depth Fusion and Wildcat Simultaneous Localization and Mapping ÔÇô to produce high-quality data about the surrounding environment and its own movements through space. This data will be instrumental in streamlining inventory tracking and aiding astronauts in their activities on the station.

If multi-resolution scanning succeeds in this technology demonstration, CSIRO plans to expand its applications to other space missions and projects. The potential for utilizing this advanced mapping technology in environments like the Moon-orbiting Gateway space station is vast.

Developed in partnership with Boeing, and with the support of the ISS National Laboratory and NASA Ames Research Centre, the payload showcases the collaborative effort to advance space exploration capabilities. The partnership leverages CSIROÔÇÖs expertise in remote mining operations and aerospace scanning technologies.

The team envisions the technology being deployed for exterior hull scanning on the Gateway space station and lunar surface exploration as part of NASAÔÇÖs Artemis program. The successful demonstration of this payload paves the way for future innovations in space technology.

With the payload securely on its way to the ISS, the team eagerly anticipates the first experimentation run in the Japanese Kibō module. This milestone marks a significant step in integrating advanced mapping technologies into space exploration.

Dr Ryan Reeves, technical director of research and innovation for the ISS National Laboratory, emphasized the value of testing and validating such innovative technologies in low Earth orbit. The results of this project hold the potential to impact the future of space commerce.

Through partnerships with leading aerospace companies and research institutions, the deployment of cutting-edge technologies like the multi-resolution scanning payload on the ISS demonstrates the continuous evolution of space exploration capabilities. The mission represents a collaborative effort to push the boundaries of what is possible in space.

The successful launch of the multi-resolution scanning payload as part of SpaceXÔÇÖs 30th Commercial Resupply Services-30 mission signifies a significant achievement in advancing space technology. The collaboration between NASA, CSIRO, and industry partners propels innovation in space exploration.