Pasadena Firm’s Robotic Arm to Fly on NASA Mission

Motiv Space Systems of Pasadena will provide a robotic arm for NASA’s Fly Foundational Robots mission, a technology demonstration in low Earth orbit scheduled to launch in late 2027, according to a NASA statement.

The mission, managed by NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, aims to advance in-space infrastructure by testing robotic operations that could one day assemble solar arrays, refuel satellites, and construct habitats on the Moon and Mars. NASA officials said the demonstration is a critical step toward sustaining human presence beyond Earth.

“Today it’s a robotic arm demonstration, but one day these same technologies could be assembling solar arrays, refueling satellites, constructing lunar habitats, or manufacturing products that benefit life on Earth,” said Bo Naasz, senior technical lead for In-space Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing (ISAM) in NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “This is how we build a dominant space economy and sustained human presence on the Moon and Mars.”

The robotic arm, developed by Motiv Space Systems through a NASA Small Business Innovation Research Phase III award, is designed for dexterous manipulation, autonomous tool use, and mobility across spacecraft structures in zero or partial gravity.

NASA said the technology could enable spacecraft repair, refuel spacecraft, construct habitats and infrastructure in space, maintain life support systems on lunar and Martian surfaces, and serve as robotic assistants to astronauts during extended missions.

Officials noted that advancing robotic systems in space could also enhance similar technologies on Earth across industries including construction.