A robot just built a structure in space for the first time
Pushing big things into Earth’s orbit is no easy task. Putting lots of small things into orbit and then assembling them into something big is easier, but requires a human touch.
If there’s one thing we know about humans and space, it’s that the less time we spend floating in a radiation-filled vacuum, the better.
A robot designed by Caltech and funded by DARPA has recently demonstrated a potential solution to space construction by assembling an antenna’s truss from individual components in orbit. Researchers have described it as the first autonomous construction of a structure in space.
Think flat-pack furniture, only with more expensive delivery.
A key part of the Autonomous In-Space Tensioned Reflector Assembly project, or ASTRA for short, the robotic builder was meant to build a 1.4-meter-wide (4.6-foot) reflector antenna from an assortment of composite tubes, aluminum joints, and reflective film.
Time limitations restricted the robot’s task to...
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