NASA’s Fly Foundational Robots Demo to Bolster In-Space Infrastructure - NASA

NASA to Launch Historic Mission to Bolster In-Space Infrastructure with Robotic Arm Technology.

In a groundbreaking move, the US space agency has embarked on a mission to deploy and operate a commercial robotic arm in low Earth orbit, marking a significant step towards establishing a sustainable human presence beyond our planet. The Fly Foundational Robots (FFR) mission is set to launch by 2027, with NASA partnering with industry players to demonstrate the capabilities of its latest technological advancements.

According to Bo Naasz, senior technical lead for In-space Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing at NASA, this mission has far-reaching implications, paving the way for robots that could assemble solar arrays, refuel satellites, construct lunar habitats, or manufacture products essential for human life on Earth. "This is how we build a dominant space economy and sustained human presence on the Moon and Mars," he emphasized.

The FFR mission leverages a robotic arm from Motiv Space Systems, capable of dexterous manipulation, autonomous tool use, and traversing spacecraft structures in zero or partial gravity. This technology holds immense potential for repairing and refueling spacecraft, constructing habitats and infrastructure in space, maintaining life support systems on lunar and Martian surfaces, and serving as robotic assistants to astronauts during extended missions.

To test the commercial robotic arm in space, NASA has contracted with Astro Digital to provide a hosted orbital test through its Flight Opportunities program. The agency is also seeking guest roboticists to contribute to the mission, allowing them to use Motiv's robotic platform as a testbed and perform unique tasks. As the inaugural guest operator, NASA aims to expand access to this technology, fostering collaboration with other U.S. partners.

The success of the FFR mission hinges on testing robotic operations in space prior to launching more complex servicing and refueling missions. By demonstrating Motiv's robotic arm operations in low Earth orbit, the agency is poised to unlock a new era of possibilities for in-space robotics.

NASA's Fly Foundational Robots demonstration is funded through its ISAM portfolio and managed by the Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland. The mission marks a significant milestone in the development of in-space robotics technology, with far-reaching implications for future scientific discovery and exploration missions.

OMG u guys, this is soo exciting!!! NASA is about to launch the FFR mission which will deploy a robotic arm in low earth orbit!! This tech has the potential to change everything, like robots that can assemble solar arrays and refuel satellites It's going to pave the way for us to have a sustainable human presence beyond our planet And it's not just about space exploration, it's also about building a dominant space economy I mean, imagine being able to manufacture products essential for human life on Earth using robots in space!!! It's like something out of a sci-fi movie! I'm so hyped to see what the future holds for this mission and how it's going to impact our lives

this is so cool! i'm like literally super stoked about nasa's new robotic arm tech ... think about it, they're basically building the tools to make space travel way more sustainable and practical . it's not just about sending astronauts to mars, but also about being able to maintain and repair equipment in space so that we can have a steady stream of discoveries and advancements ... astro digital is getting in on the action too, hosting orbital tests for this tech which is awesome

This is awesome news! I'm so hyped about NASA's Fly Foundational Robots mission! It's like, we're finally getting closer to having robots that can help us build stuff in space without humans having to do all the work ourselves . Can you imagine having a robotic arm that can assemble solar panels or refuel satellites while astronauts are busy with other tasks? That's some crazy cool tech right there!

OMG, this is like SOOOO exciting!!! NASA is finally taking huge leaps towards making space travel and living a reality! I'm literally counting down the days till 2027 when they launch this mission. Can you even imagine robots assembling solar arrays and refueling satellites in space? Mind. Blown. The potential for repairing and maintaining spacecraft, habitats, and life support systems is endless! We're not just talking about reaching Mars, we're talking about creating a sustainable human presence in space that could benefit our entire planet This is the future we've been waiting for, and I couldn't be more stoked to see it become a reality

I'm stoked to see NASA pushing forward with this robotic arm tech . It's crazy to think that we're on the cusp of being able to assemble solar arrays, refuel satellites, and even manufacture products in space. I mean, can you imagine having a robot that could help keep our astronauts safe on long missions? It's like something out of science fiction! And the fact that NASA is making this tech more accessible to other partners is huge. We're one step closer to establishing a sustainable human presence beyond Earth and unlocking all the possibilities that come with it .

I think what's really cool about this robotic arm tech is how it can help us work smarter not harder in space . We're always trying to push the boundaries of human presence beyond Earth, but we gotta consider the cost and complexity. This robotic arm could be a game changer – imagine being able to fix a broken satellite or build a new habitat without having to send someone all the way out there to do it .

It's also really interesting that NASA is making this tech available for other people to use . That's what innovation is all about – sharing knowledge and resources to take things to the next level . By doing this, they're not only advancing their own mission but also paving the way for others to join in and contribute.

What I think we can learn from this is the importance of collaboration and accessibility in pushing forward with big projects . When everyone can contribute and participate, amazing things happen !

I'm low-key excited about this NASA's plan to launch a robotic arm in space is gonna open doors for some crazy awesome tech advancements think about it, we're talking robots that can assemble solar panels on the moon, refuel satellites in orbit... it's like having our own personal space engineers and astronauts would have so much more freedom to explore without worrying about repairs and maintenance Plus, this tech could also help us figure out ways to make space travel more sustainable for humans I'm all about seeing where this takes us and what kind of breakthroughs we can expect from it

This is like they're setting up a new frontier in space, but you gotta wonder what's driving this push for robotic arms and infrastructure... Is it all about saving NASA from having to keep sending humans back down to Earth every time something goes wrong? It seems like we're creating a whole new economy out there, and that raises questions about who benefits from it: the US space agency or private companies?

And what's up with the partnership between NASA and industry players like Motiv Space Systems? Is this just another way for them to get rich off of government contracts? I'm not saying that's a bad thing, but we gotta keep an eye on how this whole setup plays out. After all, when you're talking about space travel and exploration, it's not just about the tech – it's about who gets to decide what happens next.

[Image of a robotic arm reaching out to grab a tool, with a smile]

NASA's getting its hands dirty in space ! Who needs astronauts when you have robots doing all the heavy lifting ? Maybe one day we'll be living on Mars and saying "I'm not lazy, I'm just conserving energy"

[Image of a spaceship with solar panels, with a big thumbs up]

Solar power is the future, and NASA's getting there ️! Can't wait to see what other cool things this robotic arm can do . Maybe they'll even make robots that can assemble IKEA furniture

[Image of a robot in space, with a sad face]

But seriously, who needs astronauts when you have robots? Just kidding (kind of) . This is actually really cool and could be a big step forward for space exploration

what if we can't agree on who should be in charge of space stuff and we have robots doing everything instead? won't that get rid of some people's jobs and also is it safe to leave robots alone in space without anyone to fix them in case something goes wrong

I'm all about this robotic arm tech! It's gonna be huge for space travel and habitation. Can you imagine having robots that can assemble solar arrays and refuel satellites like it's no big deal? It's like something straight out of Star Trek. And NASA is working with industry players to make it happen, which means we might see this tech in action sooner rather than later.

I think what I love most about this mission is that it's not just about sending robots to space, but actually making them capable of doing real work. Like, can you imagine having a robotic arm on the International Space Station that can help with repairs and maintenance? It's game-changer for long-term space missions.

The fact that NASA is opening up access to this tech for other people to use is also super cool. It means we'll see more innovation and collaboration in space travel, which is just what we need to take us to the next level.

they gotta get this right or it'll be another failed space mission... robotic arms are cool n all but what about safety? like if there's an emergency on that thing we need to know how 2 fix it fast anyway, its good 2 see NASA tryin 2 build a sustainable human presence in space

so like this robotic arm thingy is gonna be a game changer right? i mean we're talking about robots that can assemble solar arrays and refuel satellites and all that jazz... but what's the point of it all if we don't have anyone to use them? are we just gonna leave these robots floating in space doing nothing? or is there actually someone coming up with a plan for how to make this whole space economy thing work? i mean i guess it's cool that NASA is trying to partner with industry players and all, but what about the cost? is this just gonna be some expensive project that we're gonna have to foot the bill for or is there a way to make it more affordable?

This robotic arm tech is gonna be huge for space travel , can't wait to see them assembling solar arrays on Mars ! NASA is taking it to the next level by partnering with industry players , this collaboration is key to making space travel more efficient and sustainable . I mean, think about it, robots that can refuel satellites and construct lunar habitats ... we're really getting close to establishing a human presence beyond Earth !

this is so cool NASA is finally taking robotic arm tech to space I think its gonna change everything we're talkin bout repairin spaceships & buildin habitats it's like steampunk come true what if they can even do some sick robotic dance moves on the moon or mars?

I think this is gonna be super cool! They're gonna have these robots in space that can like build stuff and fix broken satellites . It's like they're making a whole new team of robotic helpers to work with the astronauts, it's gonna make their jobs way easier . We might see more solar arrays and lunar habitats popping up soon . And can you imagine having robots that could help us build stuff on Mars one day? It's all about getting humans to explore other planets and have a sustainable presence in space, that's the goal