Fleet Space Technologies, Australia’s leading space exploration company, has taken a huge step toward off-world mineral exploration. The company has been awarded a Moon to Mars supply chain grant from the Australian Government, supporting the development of a next-generation gravity sensor designed for the Moon and Mars.
This new technology will be critical in identifying valuable resources beneath planetary surfaces, and thus offer a scalable and rapid method for subsurface exploration. With global demand for critical minerals rising, Fleet Space is now positioned at the forefront of space mining innovation.
Fleet Space Mineral Exploration Solution
The gravity sensor Fleet Space is developing is based on Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) technology, a miniaturized yet highly precise tool commonly used in Earth-based mineral exploration.
This technology measures minute variations in gravitational acceleration, allowing scientists to detect subsurface density differences – a crucial factor in identifying metal and mineral deposits hidden beneath the surface.
By adapting this method to lunar and Martian exploration, Fleet Space aims to:
- Identify subsurface mineral deposits that could be extracted for future missions.
The MEMS gravity sensor will detect density anomalies beneath the surface, indicating areas where heavier materials, such as energy transition minerals or water ice, may be concentrated. Mapping these deposits in advance will help determine whether a lunar or Martian mining operation could be viable in the future.
- Detect hidden geological structures that could support future human habitats.
Features such as lava tubes, caves, and subsurface voids could serve as natural radiation shields and stable environments for long-term human presence on the Moon or Mars. By measuring variations in gravity, Fleet Space’s technology will help identify these structures before surface operations begin, ensuring astronauts have safe locations for shelter, research, and resource extraction.
- Optimize rover navigation and landing site selection for safe exploration.
Selecting a safe and stable landing site is one of the biggest challenges in planetary exploration, especially when terrain features are not fully visible from orbit. The MEMS sensor will provide real-time gravity field mapping, allowing mission planners to avoid unstable areas, such as regions with deep subsurface voids or loose regolith, which could pose hazards for landing spacecraft and robotic rovers.
- Enhance planetary surface mapping for large-scale resource extraction.
Unlike traditional methods that require multiple sensors and complex geophysical surveys, Fleet Space’s MEMS technology will allow a single, lightweight device to quickly scan vast areas for resource-rich zones. This means future missions could prioritize high-yield locations for mining operations, ensuring efficient use of mission time and resources while reducing the need for unnecessary excavation.
- Reduce environmental and logistical challenges associated with planetary exploration.
Traditional mining and exploration techniques on Earth often involve heavy machinery and extensive fieldwork, which would be impractical in the harsh environments of the Moon and Mars. By using non-invasive gravity sensing, Fleet Space’s technology will help minimize disruptions to planetary surfaces while still providing critical geological data, enabling a sustainable and responsible approach to space mining.
With the growing push for space mining, this technology could change how we find and use resources on the Moon and Mars. Discovering water and valuable minerals could make long-term space missions possible without depending on Earth. By developing better exploration tools, Fleet Space is leading the way toward a future where human life and work beyond our planet.
Fleet Space’s Growing Role in Space Exploration
Fleet Space has already made huge strides in satellite-enabled mineral exploration with its ExoSphere Discovery platform. This real-time 3D Ambient Noise Tomography (ANT) system is used by top mining companies like Rio Tinto, Barrick, and Gold Fields to detect mineral-rich zones with minimal environmental impact.
Now, the company is applying this knowledge to space.
Fleet Space’s first lunar technology, a miniaturized SPIDER smart seismic station, will analyze the Moon’s subsurface for water ice and geological features – a really important step for long-term lunar exploration.
The new MEMS gravity sensor could follow a similar path, very likely becoming a key tool for space industry operations in the future.
What’s Next for Fleet Space?
Fleet Space is rapidly expanding its role in the space and mining sectors, with key upcoming developments:
- Launching SPIDER on the Moon in 2026 as part of Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost Mission 2
Fleet Space will deploy SPIDER, a miniaturized smart seismic station, on the Moon to analyze its subsurface structure. This will provide crucial data on lunar geology, potential water ice deposits, and underground stability, which are essential for future lunar bases and mining operations.
The mission will demonstrate how seismic waves can map underground layers, paving the way for long-term resource extraction on the Moon.
- Expanding its proprietary satellite network with Centauri 7 and Centauri 8
To improve real-time mineral exploration, Fleet Space launched Centauri 7 and Centauri 8 on SpaceX’s Transporter-12 mission. These advanced satellites will strengthen Fleet Space’s ExoSphere system, allowing for faster and more precise imaging of underground structures both on Earth and in space.
The improved connectivity will enable remote exploration and resource mapping, making mining operations more efficient and reducing environmental impact.
- Acquiring HiSeis to enhance 3D subsurface imaging for Earth and space mining
Fleet Space has acquired HiSeis, a global leader in seismic exploration, to integrate active and passive seismic data for more accurate 3D subsurface imaging. This combination of seismic and gravity-based methods will provide a detailed view of underground formations, making it easier to locate valuable minerals, metals, and other resources.
The same technology could be adapted for lunar and Martian exploration, helping space agencies and commercial companies identify high-value mining sites on other planets.
By integrating seismic, gravity, and satellite-based exploration tools, Fleet Space is laying the groundwork for the next phase, and the exponential growth of interest in space mining. These innovations will not only help unlock off-world resources but also revolutionize mineral exploration on Earth, making it faster, more sustainable, and cost-effective.
The race for space resources is underway, and Fleet Space is truly positioning itself as a leader in the industry.
A New Era for Lunar and Martian Exploration
The Moon to Mars grant supports Fleet Space’s goal of making off-world exploration more efficient and scalable. Traditional geophysical surveys require large, heavy equipment, but Fleet Space’s miniaturized approach means that future missions can deploy gravity sensors with minimal weight and power requirements.
This advancement could transform how we search for resources in space, and offer a practical, cost-effective solution for large-scale planetary exploration.
By applying this technology to upcoming missions, Fleet Space is helping to answer key scientific and logistical questions:
- Where can future missions safely land and operate?
- How can we map hidden resources before sending human explorers?
- What are the best locations for sustainable mining operations in space?
Fleet Space’s gravity sensing technology, combined with its growing satellite network and real-time mineral mapping capabilities, represents a huge step forward in space exploration and resource utilization.