This book presents the latest research findings from leading space robotic researchers around the world, together with contributions from leading space systems industrialists on the practical aspects of research and development in space robotics. The book also considers future challenges and trends to provide a ‘look ahead’ for space robotics. The European Commission set up the “Space Robotic Technologies” Strategic Research Cluster (SRC) in its flagship funding programme Horizon 2020, with the goal of enabling major advances in strategic key points of Space Robotics Technologies, in order to improve European competitiveness.

Space robotics have advanced rapidly in recent years, as reflected in recent successful space exploration missions like NASA’s successful landing and operation of the Curiosity rover on Mars, and the European Space Agency’s equally successful landing of its Philae probe on comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko. These advances have inspired many young graduates and undergraduates to study space robotics.