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The Andy Thomas Centre for Space Resources (ATCSR) brings together the University of Adelaide’s collective exploration, mining, manufacturing and engineering research strengths to address the challenges faced by long term planetary exploration, while ensuring the near-term application here on Earth.
Achieving this goal requires a fundamental rethinking of the technologies, processes and infrastructure required to ensure continued and sustainable access to the energy, fuels and resources necessary for off-world operations and to ensure a safe environment for mission crews.
The ATCSR looks to better understand the challenges surrounding long term space exploration such as:
- What resources exist on planets and near-earth objects and how do we identify, assess and model them?
- How do we extract these resources and process them in a responsible, efficient and sustainable way?
- What technologies and processes do we need to successfully manufacture new materials for off-planet construction?
- How do these resources become new essential products for life to prosper on new worlds?
- How do we generate and store energy and fuels, grow food, maintain equipment and ensure safe and reliable operations on other worlds?
- What are the legal frameworks required to underpin commercially viable exploration and operations?
Addressing these challenges also provides opportunities for developing new technologies that can underpin long term, sustainable, resource exploration and processing in remote locations here on Earth.
The ATCSR works across all University of Adelaide faculties and engages with an ever increasing number of multi-disciplinary research groups. The centre is supported by the Institute for Mineral and Energy Resources, leading research in off-world in-situ resource utilisation (ISRU) and the technologies and processes required for its sustainable and efficient use. This work is reinforced by other University institutes including the AI, computer vision expertise of AIML and the sensing technologies of IPAS.
Make History Speaker Series
The Make History Speaker Series will feature high-profile alumni speakers across four events in 2023. These not to be missed panel discussions will explore the challenges of the past, present and future and unlock the mystery of space, cancer cells, equality and more.
Australian Rover Challenge
The Australian-first challenge to design and build a Rover to compete in a full-scale simulated lunar mission came to the University of Adelaide campus.
Australian Space Architecture Challenge
Andy Thomas Centre for Space Resources (ATCSR) brings you the first Australian Space Architecture Challenge!
Australian Society for Off-Earth Construction
The Australian Society for Off-Earth Construction (ASOC) is dedicated to facilitating the development and translation of Australia's expertise in construction in off-earth environments.
Download brochure
If you would like to learn more about the centre structure and education modules, please download our brochure.
Space News
Read about the latest space research and industry collaborations happening with the University of Adelaide, from testing tablets on the ISS to our unique space testing facilities to enable humans to go back into space, this time to stay.
Be involved
The Centre is actively seeking partners interested in realising the ATCSR's vision for future sustainable resource exploration utilisation – both in Space and on Earth.