The International Space Station has recently been conducting one of the first experiments in the station’s first commercial airlock: the Nanoracks Bishop Airlock. Known as the GITAI S1 Robotic Arm Tech Demo (Nanoracks-GITAI Robotic Arm), the experiment is harnessing the power or robotics to make space travel cheaper and safer. For the demonstration, the robot conducts common crew activities and tasks via supervised autonomy and teleoperations from the ground. It is being controlled through supervised autonomy and the virtual reality controls. 

Launched aboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule, the robotic arm and technology demonstration is developed by Japanese space robotics startup, GITAI. According to GITAI, through this technical demonstration, GITAI will acquire the technology, know-how, and experience necessary to develop a robot that can conduct versatile tasks in space. All this will be applied to future development of robots working in the harsh space environment that can carry out docking, repair, and maintenance tasks for On-Orbit Servicing (OOS), and conduct various tasks for lunar exploration and lunar base construction. 

GITAI’s target is to be an equal partner with the world’s leading space launch companies, providing inexpensive and safe labor to build cities on the Moon and Mars, and space colonies by 2040. The International Space Station is building block to get there. 

Learn more about commercial space opportunities through Stellar Access at stellaraccess.com. 

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