NASA's Robotic Arm Mission to Enhance In-Space Infrastructure

NASA is set to launch the Fly Foundational Robots mission in late 2027, which will operate a commercial robotic arm in low Earth orbit. This mission aims to enhance in-space operations, a vital step for sustainable living and working on other planets.

The robotic arm, developed by Motiv Space Systems, is designed for dexterous manipulation, autonomous tool use, and traversing spacecraft structures in zero or partial gravity. According to Bo Naasz, senior technical lead for In-space Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing at NASA Headquarters, today’s robotic arm demonstration could lead to future applications such as assembling solar arrays, refueling satellites, or constructing habitats on the Moon and Mars.

The mission represents a crucial investment in the in-space robotics industry, which is expected to unlock essential tools for scientific discovery and future exploration missions. The Fly Foundational Robots mission will be managed by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, and will utilize a hosted orbital test provided by Astro Digital from Littleton, Colorado.

This collaboration is part of NASA's Flight Opportunities program. NASA will be the first guest operator of the Motiv robotic platform, which will also allow other U.S. partners to participate in the mission.

The goal is to test and validate robotic operations in space before executing more complex servicing and refueling missions. This initiative is funded through NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate's ISAM portfolio and is expected to advance understanding of robotic technologies that could benefit various industries on Earth, including construction and medicine.

As emphasized in the report, the future of in-space robotics relies heavily on the successful demonstration of these technologies, paving the way for a sustainable human presence beyond Earth, ultimately contributing to a dominant space economy.