When the Mars Curiosity Rover touched down on the red planet’s surface in 2012, it was a huge deal for space exploration. But in just a few years the options for exploration will widen considerably.

Technology such as drones and augmented reality is rapidly becoming more commonplace on Earth, and as it continues to develop so does its potential for use in space.

Our ability to explore planets and areas of space will, without a doubt, be enhanced by technologies that are able to work autonomously and move freely.

The devices that are being developed today will, hopefully, prevent scenarios such as the Philae Lander being lost on the surface of the comet 67P.

Here we look at some of the projects trying to change the way we explore our universe.

Space drones

NASA’s researchers are looking at a helicopter drone that will be able to fly on Mars and direct future rovers that touchdown on the planet.

It could measure 3.6ft (1.1m) from the tip of one blade to another and weight 2.2lbs (1kg).

“The helicopter would fly ahead of the rover almost every day, checking out various possible points of interest and helping engineers back on Earth plan the best driving route,” the space organisation said.

Self-replicating robots

One space-exploring robot or drone may one day be able to create an army of similar exploring robots while it is in space.

The idea is based upon the theory of mathematician John Von Neumann, who wondered if it was possible to develop a non-biological system that could replicate itself in a certain environment.

This concept progressed to a potential self-replicating spacecraft by Robert Feitas, who said that we need to be able to create robots that can automate their reproduction.

With the development of 3D printers this theory could come true, with robotic explorers printing themselves while in space.

MIT researchers have also been working on self-replicating robots, as can be seen in the video above.

Balloons

One way that we could explore planets such as Venus will be using large balloons that are delivered to their planetary destination by spacecraft and then ejected into orbit.

An airship could be unfurled and inflated in space to allow humans to explore the atmospheres of gaseous planets.

Holograms

We’re still a fair way off putting humans on Mars to explore for ourselves, but hologram and augmented reality technology will put us as close to the surface as we’ve ever been.

NASA has been working with Microsoft to develop technology called OnSight that will allow scientists to work virtually on mars.

“OnSight gives our rover scientists the ability to walk around and explore Mars right from their offices,” said NASA’s Dave Lavery.

“It fundamentally changes our perception of Mars, and how we understand the Mars environment surrounding the rover.”

Submarines

In 2014 NASA funded a project to research exploring the seas of Titan, Saturn’s largest moon.

The seas are not composed of water, but instead of liquid hydrocarbons.

“We propose to develop a conceptual design of a submersible autonomous vehicle (submarine) to explore extraterrestrial seas,” said NASA’s Steven Oleson.

“Specifically, to send a submarine to Titan’s largest northern sea, Kraken Mare.

“This craft will autonomously carry out detailed scientific investigations under the surface of Kraken Mare, providing unprecedented knowledge of an extraterrestrial sea and expanding NASA’s existing capabilities in planetary exploration to include in-situ nautical operations.”

Inline images courtesy of NASA