ASTRA Robot Builds 1.4-Meter Antenna in Space, Marking First Autonomous Orbital Construction
Updated
Updated · Space.com · Nov 10
ASTRA Robot Builds 1.4-Meter Antenna in Space, Marking First Autonomous Orbital Construction
3 articles · Updated · Space.com · Nov 10
Summary
A DARPA-backed ASTRA robot assembled a 1.4-meter reflective antenna structure in orbit without human hands-on control, a first for autonomous in-space construction.
The Caltech-led test used Kapton film, composite fiber tubes and aluminum joints to show spacecraft can be built beyond rocket fairing limits rather than folded for launch.
Vigoride 7 carried the payload after a March 30 launch on SpaceX's Transporter-16 mission, but 15-minute daily communication windows left the team short of time to complete the full truss.
DARPA's NOM4D program is targeting structures hundreds of meters to kilometers wide, with potential uses in communications, giant telescope mirrors and large solar arrays.