Human and robotic exploration benefits infographic

This infographic shows some of the benefits for humankind that have been made available through ESA’s human and robotic spaceflight programme. The challenges of space exploration accelerate innovation for all on Earth. Human and robotic spaceflight is moving technology towards a circular economy by improving efficiency in energy, automation, robotics, artificial intelligence, habitation technology, recycling, waste management, and additive manufacturing.

Scientific discoveries from human exploration are applied widely from health to metallurgy, while deeper knowledge about our solar system and life beyond Earth changes our perceptions of humankind.

More information about each icon from the top going clockwise:

• Space-age metals for lighter, more fuel efficient aircraft
• Removing odours from frying food
• Enabling telerobotics in disaster areas
• Better tasting crops with less waste
• 85% closed water recycling
• AI robotics for factories
• Scaling up biofuel production
• Sportswear that smells better for longer
• Improving nutrition with easy-to-grow supplements
• Conserving gas during transport by freezing
• New CT-scanners for bone imaging
• Boosting immune systems
• New non-invasive thermometer used in open-heart surgery
• Lung diagnoses techniques
• Space tech used during eye laser-surgery
• Remote ultrasound techniques
• Restoring muscle loss from bedridden patients
• Using plasma to disinfect hospitals
• Bacteria that fight cholesterol in your body
• Research on astronauts directly applicable to elderly, such as osteoporosis
• Space metals for artificial limbs
• Understanding brain trauma