Space Venture Spotlight: Ceres Robotics

Fellow-led organisation Ceres Robotics is making space exploration feasible for humanity on a large scale. Their focus on affordability and safety makes space travel more accessible than ever before. By developing advanced robots and spacecraft, they're not just imagining a future where people live on other planets - they're actively building the technology to make it happen, shaping a new era in space innovation.

It is a collaborative effort, with five EHF Fellows on the Ceres Robotics team: led by Michael Sims, founder and CEO, alongside Udit Shah, and Michael D’Angelo, as well as NZ-based Emeline Paat-Dahlstrom and Eric Dahlstrom. Their collective efforts are enabling Ceres Robotics to pioneer groundbreaking solutions for space exploration, and grow connections between the US and Aotearoa NZ.

Ceres Robotics recently secured a NASA contract to develop a 50-kW solar power source for lunar missions, supporting habitats, rovers, and construction systems. Their cost-effective and innovative approach aims to extend mission life, maximise scientific output, and reduce overall system costs for future lunar exploration, aligning with their broader mission to enable humanity's multiplanetary presence.

Michael can see that space exploration is a significant opportunity for Aotearoa - during his EHF Welcome Experience in May last year he said,

"I think the reason NZ would make that investment, is one, to take the gamble on their people, and two, for the innovative side effects … when you invest money in space, you invest in the high technology in the country." 

Ceres Robotics B5 Lander, Cr3 Rover, and Moon Lander

Ceres Robotics is laying the foundation for a new era of space exploration, driven by collaboration, innovation, and a shared vision for the future. Find out more about Ceres Robotics here: https://www.ceresrobotics.com/