Workshops/Special Sessions
Thursday November 5, morning session
Sustainable Space Activities through Robotic Pre-deployment and Autonomous Operations ~From Demonstrations to Infrastructure~
Open Space Robotics: Software and Hardware Solutions
Robotics & Automation needs - Manufacturing in Space
Thursday November 5, afternoon session
Enabling Modularity and Interoperability in Space Robotics
1st Workshop on Multi-Agent Systems Strategies for Space (MASS)
Special session Topic Group on Space Robotics – euRobotics
Sustainable Space Activities through Robotic Pre-deployment and Autonomous Operations ~From Demonstrations to Infrastructure~
Organizers: Hiroki Kato (JAXA), Neal Y. Lii (DLR), Shaun Azimi (NASA), Seiko Piotr Yamaguchi (JAXA), Tilo Wüsthoff (DLR)
Abstract: Human space exploration is entering a phase where sustainability, rather than short-term mission success, defines progress. Future lunar and Martian exploration require robotic systems that can autonomously pre-deploy infrastructure—power systems, habitats, ISRU facilities, and logistics networks—before crew arrival and maintain them with minimal intervention. This represents a paradigm shift from “reach-and-complete” missions to persistent, infrastructure-driven exploration. This workshop aims to explore how space robotics can enable such sustainable operations, focusing on autonomous systems, multi-agent cooperation, and scalable architectures for pre-deployment and long-term maintenance. It will bring together experts from major space agencies (JAXA, DLR, NASA), academia, and industry to discuss lessons learned from current missions and define future research priorities. The workshop directly supports iSpaRo2026 themes by addressing autonomy, in-space servicing, surface robotics, and human–robot collaboration
Open Space Robotics: Software and Hardware Solutions
Organizers: Pedro Roque (Caltech), Zachary Manchester (MIT), Jessica Todd (Caltech), Benjamin Riviere (NYU), Keenan Albee (USC), Brian Coltin (NASA ARC), Jean-Pierre de la Croix (JPL), Amir Rahmani (JPL), Jules Noirant (ESA), Andrej Orsula (Univ. of Luxembourg)
Abstract: This workshop will bring together contributors from across the space robotics community to discuss and demonstrate open software and hardware solutions spanning the full robotics stack, from simulation and digital twins to guidance, navigation, and control, to the operating systems and fault-tolerant schedulers that run on real flight and ground hardware. Through a mix of invited keynotes, short spotlight talks from accepted contributors, and a panel discussions and a tutorial session, the workshop will highlight publicly released frameworks and testbeds, address common challenges in building reproducible and accessible space robotics infrastructure, and explore how hardware-in-the-loop and software-in-the-loop approaches can bridge the gap between simulation and on-orbit or planetary deployment. Lastly, we hope that attendees bring home a working example of an open-source software stack which they can deploy on open-source hardware and build autonomy solutions on top.
Robotics & Automation needs - Manufacturing in Space
Organizers: Radhika Gudipati (ARIA), Jeremy Hadall (Satellite Applications Catapult)
Abstract: The key goal is to bring together life science, material science, space and robotics communities together to discuss the automation challenges for ‘Manufacturing in Space’ as the topic is multidisciplinary and not often the communities get together. The organising team can bring in their know-how, knowledge and experience of the challenges from life science and material science in-orbit experiments, i.e., the current in orbit experimental workflows still require human-in-the-loop and are difficult to automate with current state-of-the-art space robots. This would trigger a useful conversation among the audience to identify potential Robotics & Automation solutions that can contribute to the efficiency, robustness and velocity of in-orbit life sciences and material science experiments
Enabling Modularity and Interoperability in Space Robotics
Organizers: Mini Chakravarthini Rai (Orbit Rise), Marco De Stefano (DLR), Manu Harikrishnan Nair (University of Manchester)
Abstract: Scaling in-space missions into commercial services requires a new generation of autonomous robots capable of operating across diverse platforms, missions, and service providers. This vision depends on embedding modularity and interoperability into the design, development, and operation of space robotic systems and supporting infrastructure. Despite significant advances in robotic manipulation, autonomy, and servicing technologies, the lack of common interfaces, standards, and interoperable architectures remains a key barrier to scalability and commercial adoption. This workshop will address technical, operational, and regulatory challenges, and explore opportunities for standardization and cross-sector collaboration to enable scalable, costeffective, and sustainable in-space robotic ecosystems
1st Workshop on Multi-Agent Systems Strategies for Space (MASS)
Organizers: Amrita Suresh (University of Bremen), Mehmed Yüksel (DFKI), Raul Dominguez (DFKI), Manuel Meder (DFKI)
Abstract: The workshop aims to bring together researchers, facilitate collaborations, and to discuss future directions in multi-agent systems for space applications. The design and cooperative operation of different variations of multi-agent systems (MAS) in a challenging environment within the described setup are the core questions to be discussed within the MASS workshop. Strategies for multi-agent systems can tackle fields like planning, exploration, distributed communication and appear to particularly benefit from advancement in the field of artificial intelligence, as well as modern approaches to autonomous collaboration in space. The insights and outcomes are intended to benefit the robotics community by advancing MAS methods applicable for space and with potential transfer to terrestrial applications.
Website: https://mass-workshop.dfki-bremen.de/
Special session Topic Group on Space Robotics – euRobotics
Organizers: Reinhard Lafrenz (euRobotics), Javier Luque (euRobotics), Miguel Olivares (University of Luxembourg), Carlos Perez del Pulgar (University of Malaga)
Abstract: The goal and scope of the Space Robotics topic group is to influence and drive the research, development and operative deployment of robotics in Space. We do so by organizing workshops to connect stakeholders and discuss challenges, success stories and next steps between domains and throughout value chains. Moreover, we coordinate input from the Space Robotics robotics community in Europe to highlight needs, possibilities and challenges regarding in-space activities.