This proceedings, ""Robotics for Challenging Environments"", consists of papers presented at the Specialty Conference held in Albuquerque, New Mexico, June 1-6, 1996. The purpose of this book is to bring together the ideas of researchers working on robotic technologies and those seeking to apply these technologies in a variety of challenging environments so that knowledge and experience gained in one domain can be applied to another. The proceedings is divided into two sections. The first one discusses supporting technologies such as path planning, operator interfaces and supervisory control, and control of robots and manipulators. The papers in the second section discuss a variety of possible applications such as space applications, standards for space robots, infrastructure applications, robotic excavation, and safety in nuclear facilities.