Team CRADLE
Amentum, The University of Manchester
The Team
Team CRADLE is composed of robotics researchers and engineers from the Centre for Robotic Autonomy in Demanding and Long-lasting Environments (CRADLE), a collaboration between Amentum and the University of Manchester.
Amentum is a global leader in advanced engineering and innovative technology solutions with decades of experience across defence, security, intelligence, energy, and environmental domains. Amentum plays a crucial role in flagship NASA missions as their largest services contractor, providing expertise in spacecraft design, launch support, mission operations, and the development of advanced technologies for human spaceflight, planetary exploration, astronautical material curation and satellite systems.
The University of Manchester brings deep academic expertise through two of its leading groups: the Centre for Robotics and AI, recognised as one of the UK’s top robotics research centres; and the Space Systems Engineering Research Group, which pioneers innovative technologies and mission concepts for sustainable space exploration.
The Solution
Our entry for the 2025 ESA Space Resources Challenge is the Mobile Lunar Excavation and Size Separation System (MoLES³), an enhanced, field-tested version of the LES³ system originally developed for lunar sample collection. MoLES³ integrates excavation and beneficiation into a single, efficient mechanism mounted on a mobile rover platform. The system uses low excavation forces and a vibrating sieve to separate regolith into particle size fractions suitable for oxygen extraction. Designed for modularity, remote operation, and minimal dust generation, MoLES³ builds on extensive real-world testing in space analogue environments and hostile terrains, demonstrating our team’s readiness to tackle lunar challenges.