AsclepiosAnalog space mission
Asclepios I
As the first mission of the Asclepios project, Asclepios I laid the foundation on which the following missions will be built. It served to accomplish the project’s goals as it demonstrated the viability of student led analogue missions. This mission served the purpose of testing the structure chosen for an Asclepios analogue mission but also the project structure itself. It was also oriented towards an ecological and sustainable approach. This was underlined by multiple choices ranging from alimentation to the construction of base structures.
Asclepios I Mission Report
The Genesis Crew
EIGHT ANALOG ASTRONAUTSThis Asclepios I crew is composed of six members of the astronaut crew and two backups. The crew performed an analogue space mission in all its components: training and through preparation; maintain and perform repairs of their base if needed; conduct scientific experiments and communicate with the ground team of the MCC as would a regular astronaut crew. The backups stand ready to replace an undisposed astronauts prior to launch and are therefore trained in the same manner as the crew. The astronauts have been drafted from students all around the globe whose level of study ranges from bachelor to PhD.
PhD in Materials & Metallurgy, University of Cambridge
MSc in Automation and Control with Minor in Space Technologies, EPFL
PhD in astrophysics, University of Geneva
MSc in mechatronics Engineering, Politecnico di Torino
BSc in physics, EPFL
MSc in communication systems with Space Technologies Minor, EPFL
MSc in Nuclear Engineering, at INSTN – CEA
BSc in Mechanical engineering at EPFL
Scientific experiments
01 — 10
The experiment aims to develop a method that reduces the perchlorate content of the soil by 90% percent. The test also aims for a minimal use of water, according to the sustainability goal of the mission. An analogue soil will be testes. The experience hope to achieve these results using a system designed to apply 3 environmental and hydrometallurgical technologies: Dissolution, Filtration and Ion Exchange, in order to eliminate perchlorate salts from the soil of Mars.
The aim of the study is to help validate NASA’s standard health measures and explore some of the antecedents that might influence individual responses in challenging and demanding environments.
The goal of the project is to develop an application used by astronauts during EVAs. The first iteration of the app will be used while executing the EVA experiments, to collect the localisation of points of interest identified by the astronauts. Later iterations will expand on the app capabilities.
The project goal is to design a stand-alone drone system. The rover design is intended to utilize a novel “modularity” approach for system components, becoming customizable depending on the context of the mission/experiment.
AstroLink is the internal Mission Control Center software. Currently, it behaves as a storage center for experiments and flight planning. The primary goal is to have a centralized software implementation for data and communication.
The experiment tests and assesses a new approach for creating maps with combined remote sensing and field observation methods. The experiment will use location data coming from EVA App, together with surface images and landscape images for each waypoint in the map.
The project aims at developing a moonquake detection system as well as the associated contingency plans and evacuation procedures.
The experiment aims at testing IDUN sensors to harvest biometric constants (while activities e.g. running, EVA, diving, sleeping). Sensors are meant to be fully integrated in space suits in further Asclepios missions.
The experiment tests remote operation of a subsurface ice extraction machine. The astronaut remotely controls the machine to dig holes to search and extract subsurface ice, and melt it to obtain liquid water.
The goal of the project is testing a procedure dedicated to perform geophysical experiments on the Moon.
Our teams
Asclepios I structure
The project leaders are the chief executive for the mission. They mentour, coordinate and support all the Heads with their teams’ activities.
The astronauts team handles everything related to the astronaut crew of the Asclepios missions. They are responsible for every step of the recruitment and selection of the crew. Once the crew is recruited, its training (survival, science, communication protocols, teamwork) is their responsibility.
The Science team interfaces between Asclepios and our scientific collaborators. Each year, the Science team puts out a Call for Projects to solicit proposals from academia and industry for projects to test in the Asclepios mission. Science team members collaborate with Principal Investigators throughout the year to implement their experiments in the mission. The Science team also plans and implements their own experiments.
The Communications Team shares our work at Asclepios with the rest of the world! This team is responsible for managing the Asclepios social media and website, as well as designing team merchandise and mission and team patches.
The Management Team overlooks everything that ensures smooth functioning of the association, including finance, logistics, and legal departments. They work on the mission budget, partners’ agreements and general logistics for the mission.
Asclepios I sponsors
Partners & supporters
Our missions
Flight log · 2021—2026
Asclepios VI2026
WBA Eurohab2025
Asclepios V2025
Asclepios IV2024
Asclepios III2023
Asclepios II2022
Asclepios I2021