Autonomous Space Station Exterior Maintenance Robot AstroMaint Completes First EVA Task at ISS
Space robotics company Orbital Robotics' AstroMaint robot completes first autonomous EVA maintenance task at ISS, repairing micrometeorite thermal shield damage in 4.5 hours versus 8 hours for two astronauts
Space robotics company Orbital Robotics announced on March 19 that its AstroMaint autonomous maintenance robot completed its first extravehicular maintenance task at the International Space Station.
AstroMaint was delivered to the ISS by a SpaceX cargo spacecraft in February. During this mission, AstroMaint autonomously located thermal shield damage caused by a micrometeorite impact and used its built-in repair toolkit to clean and patch the damaged area. The entire operation took 4.5 hours, compared to the 8 hours previously required for two astronauts performing an EVA.
AstroMaint is equipped with 6 robotic arms and a stereo vision system, capable of autonomous navigation and manipulation in microgravity. NASA's astronaut maintenance division head stated: "AstroMaint significantly reduces EVA risks and costs."
Orbital Robotics plans to deploy a second AstroMaint in 2031 and is developing a maintenance robot version for the lunar surface.
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