Science & Tech · Space · 6 hrs ago
Robot builds a radio antenna in space without astronaut help
A robot has begun assembling a radio antenna in space without astronaut help.
The system was developed by Sergio Pellegrino and his team at the California Institute of Technology through a US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency initiative.
Since launching in March, it has joined tubes, joints and reflective nets to build an antenna 1.4 metres across.
Large structures in orbit have generally been assembled by astronauts or launched folded up and then unfolded, but unfolding cannot handle more complex designs.
The antenna is not yet complete, but the work has shown that robotic construction in orbit is viable.
The team monitors images sent to Earth and checks for problems using an identical robot in its lab.
The mission ends in December, and the team hopes to spur faster, larger systems that could eventually help build space stations and data centres.
A robot has assembled a radio antenna in space without astronaut assistance, in what researchers describe as a first.
The project is a step towards autonomous construction of larger structures in orbit.
The robot has been assembling a 1.4-metre-diameter antenna from tubes, joints and reflective nets.
The antenna is not yet complete, and the mission is scheduled to end in December.
The team hopes the test will encourage development of faster and larger in-orbit assembly systems.
- Who
- Sergio Pellegrino and his team at the California Institute of Technology developed the robot as part of a DARPA initiative.
- What
- A robot is assembling a radio antenna in space without astronaut assistance.
- When
- The robot’s mission began with a March launch and is scheduled to end in December.
- Where
- In orbit; the robot launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
- Why
- The project tests autonomous in-orbit manufacturing, which could help build larger structures such as space stations and data centres.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The robot launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California and began work on building the antenna.
Images of each construction step have been sent to Earth, where researchers check them and troubleshoot with an identical robot in their lab.
The mission is scheduled to end, although antenna construction has not yet been completed.
- Antenna diameter
- 1.4 metres
- Robot developer
- Sergio Pellegrino and his team at the California Institute of Technology
- Project sponsor
- US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)
- Launch site
- Vandenberg Space Force Base, California
- Mission end
- December
What people are saying
The big picture is how are we going to transition from unfolding in space to building in space.
I think our objective should be that in the next 5 years we start doing some of this, and in 10 years, there is the beginning for a real maturing infrastructure.