Lunar ice mining robot swarm
A team of robots meant to prospect, dig, process and store water ice from permanently shadowed lunar craters, turning it into breathable gases, rocket propellant and water.
Why it matters
Water ice at the lunar poles could supply drinking water, air and rocket fuel. Robots that can mine it on their own would reduce what has to be launched from Earth.
How the technology works
OffWorld's approach uses many small modules that each do one job (survey, excavate, haul, process) and coordinate as a swarm. The Luxembourg program, overseen by ESA, targets permanently shadowed regions.
OffWorld said it planned a first surface demo in 2027.
Sources
Updated Oct 22, 2026 · How we source facts · Suggest a correction