A robot builds a structure on its own in space for the first time

[Andy81]

A small robot has achieved a big first in orbit. Space.com reports that Caltech's ASTRA project has autonomously built a structure in space, a 1.4 metre section of a reflective antenna made from Kapton film, composite tubes and aluminium joints

The project is funded by DARPA's NOM4D programme and led by Sergio Pellegrino. It flew on Momentus's Vigoride 7 space tug, which launched on 30 March on SpaceX's Transporter-16 mission

The team had about 15 minutes of contact a day with the experiment. The full truss was not finished because time ran out

Pellegrino said this is the first time that a structure has been autonomously constructed in space. Future goals include large telescope mirrors, radio antennas and space based solar arrays

Building structures in orbit rather than launching them fully assembled could allow far larger telescopes and antennas than any rocket could carry. Doing it autonomously with so little contact time is impressive. Even a partial build proves the concept works

What would you like to see robots build in space? And how soon could orbital construction become routine?

A robot just built a structure autonomously in space for the 1st time everwww.space.com