Planetary Radio: Space Exploration, Astronomy and Science 2025 NASA’s Innovative Advanced Concepts Symposium: Part 2 — Hopping robots and the search for exoplanet magnetospheres
Oct 22, 2025
Join Mary Knapp, a research scientist at MIT leading the GOLO project, as she explores using space-based radio arrays to study exoplanet magnetic fields. Michael Hecht shares his innovative electrolysis techniques to transform Venus’s atmosphere into fuel for exploration. Robotics technologist Benjamin Hockman discusses Gravity Poppers, tiny probes for asteroid mapping, alongside a tethered balloon for imaging Venus's surface. Justin Yim introduces LEAP, a hopping robot designed to sample Enceladus’s plumes, revealing exciting potential in the search for extraterrestrial life!
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Hop With Internal Momentum Devices
- Use internal eccentric masses or reaction wheels to create hops without external thrusters.
- Equip poppers with elastic appendages to enhance bouncing and avoid embedding in rubble.
Tethered Tow Body Reaches Below Clouds
- Dangling a tethered 'tow body' below a Venus balloon could sample below-clouds without sending the whole platform into the harsh near-surface.
- Wind shear and reeling maneuvers let the tow body image and sample the surface at near-infrared wavelengths.
Choose Materials Resistant To Venus Clouds
- Protect exposed sensors and materials against sulfuric acid and high UV by selecting resilient materials and housings.
- House critical instruments behind protective enclosures while using hot-tolerant MEMS sensors for exposed tasks.
