Caltech robot autonomously builds a structure in orbit, a first in space construction
snowclipsed · x · 2026-11-10
- A robot system developed by Caltech and funded by DARPA's NOM4D program has autonomously assembled part of a truss structure in orbit — the first autonomous construction of a structure in space, no astronauts involved.
- The ASTRA experiment uses a robotic arm to retrieve structural tubes and joints from storage dispensers and join them into repeating bays forming a larger truss.
- Launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 in March, it has spent about six months testing in orbit, demonstrating that large structures (telescopes, antennas, solar stations potentially hundreds of meters across) could be assembled from small components in space rather than launched fully built.
Related event: Caltech's ASTRA Robot Achieves First Autonomous In-Orbit Truss Assembly(2 posts)→
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