A robot just built a structure autonomously in space for the 1st time ever
A robot built part of an antenna in orbit recently, showcasing skills that could potentially allow the assembly of space telescopes and other large structures off Earth.
A DARPA-funded robot has autonomously constructed the first satellite structure in space, marking a significant milestone for future missions. The truss builder created a reflective antenna using Kapton film, composite fiber tubes, and aluminum joints. Sergio Pellegrino, an aerospace and civil engineering professor at Caltech, stated that this is the first time that a structure has been built autonomously in space.
The need for such spacecraft is expected to rise with the construction of giant megaconstellations for communication, AI compute, and other purposes. The robot's ability to build larger structures in space could be revolutionary, with potential applications in astronomy, astrophysics, communications, and space solar power.
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