Space kit for future ‘away missions’ tested in Scotland

Researchers from the University of Leicester and the University of Aberdeen have carried out a series of field demonstrations in Portsoy to test cutting-edge handheld analytical instruments. Designed for use by astronauts on the moon and, eventually, Mars, these instruments would support astronauts working as field scientists while exploring these worlds.

The campaign focused on an advanced portable spectrometer developed by the University of Leicester’s team in collaboration with INTA (Spain), Mission Control (Canada) and the University of Valladolid (Spain) as part of the European Space Agency’s PHOENIX program. Through this project, two scientific handheld devices have been developed that combine multiple analytical techniques to enable rapid identification of rocks and minerals during future human exploration missions.

Built with spacesuit ergonomics in mind for astronauts working on the lunar and Martian surfaces, these spectrometers have been supported by ESA’s ExPeRT (Exploration Preparation, Research and Technology) team and the CAVES & PANGAEA teams within ESA’s Human and Robotic Exploration directorate. While PANGAEA’s primary mission is to give astronauts the fundamental knowledge and training they need to act as field scientists on the moon and Mars, it also plays a key role in helping engineering teams trial new exploration technologies such as those developed under PHOENIX.

During their fieldwork in Scotland, the researchers simulated lunar exploration scenarios, using the handheld instruments to analyze rocks directly in the field. The tests demonstrated how astronauts could use flight-ready versions of the tools to quickly assess geological samples, search for resources and identify signs of past water activity without needing to return samples to Earth during upcoming human lunar missions.

Portsoy was selected as the test site because of its uniquely diverse geology, which closely resembles the composition of the lunar surface. The area contains a rare combination of rock types, mirroring those found on the moon and making it an ideal natural laboratory for validating space technologies.

Dr. Hannah Lerman from the University of Leicester School of Physics and Astronomy said, “We are moving ever closer to astronauts setting foot on the moon again, and when they get there, they will need the tools to gather as much insight as they can about the types of resources available on the moon. By taking our technology into real-world analog environments like Portsoy in Scotland, we can optimize the instrument’s performance, usability and scientific output in readiness for exploration on the moon and beyond.

“This collaboration showcases the U.K.’s leading role in developing next-generation space instrumentation, bridging laboratory innovation with field-based testing to support humanity’s return to the moon.”

Professor John Parnell from the University of Aberdeen said, “Our work at Portsoy is seeing great progress in understanding how we can study the lunar surface using instruments carried by astronauts.

“We’ve just come back from our latest workshop based in Fyvie Castle. A center for work in Aberdeenshire is perfect for access to both the moonlike rocks on the coast at Portsoy and the facilities of the university. The University of Aberdeen has a lot of experience of the rocks at Portsoy, which means we can make a special contribution to the global effort to explore the moon. Many generations of students at Aberdeen have learned their trade at Portsoy. We’re now extending that training to a new generation of scientists and engineers.”

The work builds on recent international demonstration campaigns, including trials at the DLR–ESA LUNA Analog Facility in Germany, where the PHOENIX spectrometers were successfully evaluated under controlled moonlike conditions. LUNA is jointly operated by the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt; DLR) and ESA in Cologne.

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