John Biggs

BREAKING: A robot developed by Caltech and funded by DARPA has successfully built part of a structure in orbit without astronauts, marking what researchers describe as the first autonomous construction of a structure in space. The experiment, called ASTRA, uses a robotic arm to retrieve individual structural tubes and connecting joints, then assemble them into sections of a larger framework directly in orbit. Launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 in March, the system has spent approximately six months in space testing the technology. The robot successfully constructed a new section of a truss structure, demonstrating that spacecraft could eventually assemble large structures from smaller components rather than launching them fully assembled. The experiment is part of DARPA's NOM4D program, which aims to enable construction of enormous structures in orbit, potentially hundreds of meters or even kilometers across. Potential applications include: > Giant space telescopes > Large satellite communications antennas > Orbital solar power stations >Future space infrastructure too large to fit inside conventional rockets The demonstration did not complete the full planned antenna, but establishes an important proof of concept for autonomous orbital construction. The technology could eventually allow the size of structures built in space to exceed the physical limits of the rockets used to launch their components. Link to official report submitted by Caltech: sciencedaily.com/releases/20…