Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Paul van Susante is a leading figure in space resource utilization, specializing in technologies for extracting and processing materials on the Moon and Mars. His work focuses on in-situ resource utilization (ISRU), particularly the excavation of lunar regolith and the extraction of water ice from Martian glaciers. Van Susante’s major contributions include a comprehensive review of lunar regolith excavation robotic prototypes, which has become a foundational reference for researchers and engineers (29 citations). He also led the development of the RedWater system, a high-TRL concept for melting and extracting water from Mars’ ice deposits, and co-authored the Snow Badger mission concept, which envisions astronauts and autonomous robots working together to trench for ice near the Artemis landing site. His decade-spanning taxonomy of NASA’s Lunabotics competition (2010–2019) provides a critical technology review that has guided student and professional teams alike. With over 55 citations across his most influential papers, van Susante’s work directly supports NASA’s Artemis program and long-term human exploration, making him a key voice in the future of off-world construction and resource independence.