Space-tech firm Voyager Technologies has secured a mission management contract with robotics startup Icarus Robotics to demonstrate a free-flying robotic system on the International Space Station.
NASA is pushing for more private-sector activity in low Earth orbit ahead of the ISS's planned retirement in 2030. Robotics is a key technology for future commercial stations and lunar missions.
Icarus' 'Joyride' system is designed to move inside crewed stations. The test will evaluate its operation in microgravity and gather critical data to train AI models for operating robots in space.
Under the agreement, Voyager will prepare the robot for flight, secure safety approvals, arrange its launch, and support operations on the station.
Icarus Robotics co-founder Jamie Palmer stated, 'Space has the highest barrier to entry of any domain, no simulator can substitute for being there.'
Robots in space can inspect and repair satellites, assist with routine maintenance and logistics aboard stations, and eventually manage orbital infrastructure.