NASA's groundbreaking Fly Foundational Robots mission is set to revolutionize in-space operations, marking a significant leap forward in our ability to sustain life and work on other planets. This ambitious project, launching in late 2027, will see a commercial robotic arm operated in low Earth orbit, showcasing the potential of in-space robotics. By fostering this technology demonstration, NASA is paving the way for a thriving in-space robotics industry, unlocking tools that will propel scientific discovery and exploration to new heights.
Bo Naasz, senior technical lead for In-space Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing (ISAM) at NASA, envisions a future where these technologies are integral to space exploration. He states, 'Today it’s a robotic arm demonstration, but one day these same technologies could be assembling solar arrays, refueling satellites, constructing lunar habitats, or manufacturing products that benefit life on Earth. This is how we build a dominant space economy and sustain human presence on the Moon and Mars.'
The Fly Foundational Robots (FFR) mission will utilize a robotic arm from Motiv Space Systems, a small business, capable of dexterous manipulation, autonomous tool use, and walking across spacecraft structures in zero or partial gravity. This versatile arm has the potential to revolutionize spacecraft repair and refueling, habitat construction, infrastructure maintenance, and even serve as a robotic assistant to astronauts during extended missions. Furthermore, advancing robotic systems in space could have far-reaching implications for Earth, enhancing technologies in construction, medicine, and transportation.
To showcase the FFR's capabilities, NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate is partnering with Astro Digital to conduct a hosted orbital test through the Flight Opportunities program. This collaboration will provide an opportunity for guest roboticists to contribute to the FFR mission, utilizing Motiv's robotic platform as a testbed and performing unique tasks. NASA is currently seeking U.S. partners to join this inaugural endeavor.
The FFR mission's success hinges on the prior testing of robotic operations in space, a crucial step before embarking on more complex and extensive servicing and refueling missions. By demonstrating Motiv's robotic arm in space, the FFR project will open doors to endless possibilities, pushing the boundaries of what's achievable in space exploration.
NASA's Fly Foundational Robots demonstration is funded through the ISAM portfolio of the Space Technology Mission Directorate and managed by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. Motiv Space Systems, based in Pasadena, California, will provide the robotic arm system through a NASA Small Business Innovation Research Phase III award. Astro Digital, located in Littleton, Colorado, will flight test Motiv's robotic payload through NASA's Flight Opportunities program, managed by NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California.
For more information on In-space Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing, visit https://etd.gsfc.nasa.gov/capabilities/in-space-servicing-assembly-and-manufacturing/.
By Colleen Wouters
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD
