Biomimetics Applied To Space Exploration

A review of the possible applications of biomimetic research and engineering to space exploration is presented. The review begins by briefly introducing biomimicry as an engineering discipline, and then, through considering the characteristics that typify current and future space exploration missions, along with the characteristics commonly associated with biological systems, it is argued that biomimicry has a high degree of applicability to space exploration. Examples of existing, planned and possible uses of biomimetic engineering in application to some specific areas of space exploration are then briefly discussed. A more general discussion then outlines possible future developments that are primarily a consequence of the explosion of knowledge caused by the current genome mapping project, which is increasingly allowing us a much deeper understanding of biological systems at a molecular level. The paper concludes by describing the work being conducted by the Advanced Concepts Team at the European Space Agency into investigating the application of biomimetic engineering to future activity in space.

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