Papers
27
Total Citations
348
H-Index
10
About
Robert P. Mueller stands at the forefront of space resource utilization and planetary robotics, pioneering technologies that could make human settlement beyond Earth a practical reality. Based at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Mueller has built a distinguished career around two transformative research domains: robotic excavation systems for extraterrestrial regolith and additive construction using in-situ planetary materials. Mueller is perhaps best known for leading the development of the RASSOR (Regolith Advanced Surface Systems Operations Robot), a groundbreaking excavation platform designed to harvest regolith on the Moon and Mars for life support consumables, propellant production, and radiation shielding. His seminal 2013 paper and its 2016 follow-up on RASSOR 2.0 have accumulated nearly 90 combined citations, reflecting the system's enduring influence on space mining engineering. His comprehensive review papers on lunar excavation prototypes and extra-terrestrial mining concepts have become essential references for the field, collectively drawing over 55 citations. Beyond robotics, Mueller has championed additive construction using basalt regolith, exploring how planetary surfaces could literally build our future infrastructure in space. His contributions to lunar base construction planning and pneumatic sampling further demonstrate a career dedicated to transforming bold exploration ambitions into tangible, deployable engineering solutions.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1Regolith Advanced Surface Systems Operations Robot (RASSOR)52 citations · 2013
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- 3Additive Construction Using Basalt Regolith Fines34 citations · 2015
- 4A Review of Lunar Regolith Excavation Robotic Device Prototypes29 citations · 2011
- 5A Review of Extra-Terrestrial Mining Robot Concepts26 citations · 2012
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- 9Zero Launch Mass Three-Dimensional Print Head15 citations · 2018
- 10Lunar Base Construction Planning14 citations · 2023