Cutting-edge robotics and automation are shaping the future of space exploration. Meet Jules Noirant, Specialist in Automation and Robotics, whose work helps push the boundaries of what robots can do in space.
Robotics has long played a crucial role in space exploration. From enabling the first satellites to orbit Earth to support today’s missions on the International Space Station (ISS) and planetary surfaces, automation continues to expand what is possible in space. These systems can operate in environments that are too dangerous, distant, or costly for humans, enabling complex tasks ranging from spacecraft servicing to planetary exploration.
For Jules, contributing to this rapidly evolving field is both a professional challenge and a personal passion. Jules joined SSC Space in 2025, bringing experience from the European Space Agency’s technical center, ESTEC, where he worked as a National Trainee for the Luxembourg Space Agency. With a background in industrial robotics and process automation, he now contributes to the Automation & Robotics team at ESA, supporting the development and testing of next-generation space robotics systems.
“With a passion for pioneering space technologies and catalyzing the industry for new space applications, I am particularly excited about the field of robotics and the role it plays in developing cutting-edge automation systems for space,” Jules explains.
“The challenges and innovations associated with in-orbit operations and planetary exploration align perfectly with my professional aspirations and technical expertise.”
During his time working with ESA’s robotics laboratories in Noordwijk, the Netherlands, Jules has gained experience across several specialized facilities, including the Orbital Robotics Lab, the Planetary Robotics Lab, and the Human-Robot Interaction Lab. These laboratories support a wide range of activities such as testing, simulation, and analysis for ESA programs as well as industrial partners developing future space technologies.
Beyond technical work, Jules values the collaborative and educational aspects of the robotics community. The laboratories regularly host outreach initiatives with ESA Education, helping students explore the fundamentals of robotics and automation. Through programs such as the ExoMy workshop, students learn about rover locomotion systems and AI-based navigation, while other initiatives support student teams in designing and testing their own robotic systems.
Researchers from universities across Europe also collaborate with the laboratories, exploring emerging technologies such as reinforcement learning and advanced AI algorithms designed for challenging environments like Martian lava tubes.
Alongside these academic collaborations, the robotic facilities also support industrial and ESA projects that explore new ways of operating robots both in space and remotely from Earth. Recent activities include contributions to ESA and DLR’s Surface Avatar project, where astronauts aboard ISS remotely operated robots on Earth to simulate future lunar exploration scenarios. The team also supports ESA’s InSPoC initiative, providing expertise and testing environments for technologies such as satellite docking and orbital servicing.
For Jules, working in robotics means contributing to technologies that will shape the future of space operations. Automation and robotics are expected to play a growing role in areas such as satellite servicing, debris removal, and exploration of the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
