Astrobee (robot)

Astrobee can operate either autonomously or under remote control by astronauts, flight controllers, or ground researchers.{{Cite web |title=Look, No Hands! NASA's First Astrobee Robot "Bumble" Starts Flying in Space - NASA |url=https://www.nasa.gov/image-article/look-no-hands-nasas-first-astrobee-robot-bumble-starts-flying-space/ |access-date=2024-04-17 |language=en-US}} The robots are equipped with cameras and sensors to navigate the microgravity environment and perform tasks such as inventory management, experiment documentation, and cargo movement. The robots utilize an electric fan to push air through 12 nozzles, enabling free flight within the space station.{{cite web |url=https://spectrum.ieee.org/nasa-launching-astrobee-robots-to-iss-tomorrow |title=NASA Launching Astrobee Robots to Space Station |publisher=IEEE Spectrum |date=2019-04-16 |access-date=2024-02-16}}

Astrobee was designed to improve upon the design of the Synchornized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites (SPHERES) which were already aboard the ISS.{{cite web |url=https://www.issnationallab.org/upward71-free-flying-robots-astrobee/ |title=Free-Flying Robots in Space: How Real-Life Droids are Testing New Tech |publisher=Upward: Official Magazine of the ISS National Laboratory |date=2024-04-23 |access-date=2024-08-06}}

Each robot is a 12.5-inch cube with a perching arm that allows it to grasp handrails for energy conservation, to manipulate items, and assist astronauts{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}}.

The docking station launched on November 17, 2018, aboard Northrop Grumman's Cygnus NG-10 mission and was installed on February 15, 2019, in the Japanese Experiment Module.

Free-flying robots Bumble and Honey launched on April 17, 2019, via the NG-11 mission.{{Cite web |title=Tiny Robots, Wearable Tech and More Weird Science Will Launch to Space Station Wednesday |url=https://www.space.com/weird-science-launching-on-antares-cygnus-ng-11.html |publisher=space.com |date= 2019-04-16|access-date=2024-08-06 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Hi Honey! NASA's Second Astrobee Wakes Up in Space - NASA |url=https://www.nasa.gov/image-article/hi-honey-nasas-second-astrobee-wakes-up-space/ |access-date=2024-04-17 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |author1=Elizabeth Howell |date=2023-10-11 |title=NASA's Astrobee robot 'Honey' flies home to its International Space Station hive |url=https://www.space.com/nasa-astrobee-robot-international-space-station-return |access-date=2024-04-17 |website=Space.com |language=en-US}} The third robot, Queen, and three perching arms were launched on July 25, 2019, aboard SpaceX's SpX-18 mission.{{Cite web |title=Oh, Hiiiiive! Astrobee Queen Wakes Up In Orbit - NASA |url=https://www.nasa.gov/image-article/oh-hiiiiive-astrobee-queen-wakes-up-orbit/ |access-date=2024-04-17 |language=en-US}} Honey ultimately ended up returning to Earth aboard SpX-23 for maintenance and returned to the space station aboard NG-19.{{Cite web |title=NASA Commercial Resupply Mission NG-19 |url=https://www.northropgrumman.com/space/nasa-commercial-resupply-mission-ng-19 |access-date=2024-08-08 |website=Northrop Grumman |language=en}}

Astrobee, like SPHERES before it, is a part of NASA's initiative to advance guest research on the ISS.{{Cite web |date=2017-08-31 |title=Astrobee Guest Science Guide |url=https://www3.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/irg-ff029-astrobee-guest-science-guide.pdf |access-date=2024-08-07}} Using the robots, researchers on Earth are able to access most of the space station without the need for astronaut interaction. In addition to research opportunities, Astrobee has been used for educational purposes, with teams of students using them to complete challenges similar to tasks robots may be used for in the future.{{Cite web |title=2023 LUNABEE FINALS A SUCCESS |url=https://zerorobotics.mit.edu/announcements/65/ |access-date=2024-08-08 |website=zerorobotics.mit.edu}}

The propulsion system of each Astrobee robot relies on a pair of impellers that pressurize air inside the robot. This pressurized air can then be vented through 12 different nozzles, allowing the robot to rotate or translate in any direction without the need for external moving parts or pressurized gas canisters. Astrobee is equipped with multiple cameras, a touch screen, a laser pointer, lights, and a 'Terminate Button' that, when pressed, quickly shuts down the propulsion and payload systems while keeping the main processors operational for communication with ground control.{{Cite web |title=NASA Astrobee Robot Software: Command Dictionary |url=https://nasa.github.io/astrobee/v/develop/command_dictionary.html |access-date=2024-05-29 |website=nasa.github.io}}

The onboard sensing and computing capabilities enable Astrobee to operate autonomously, and its flight software, based on ROS, is upgradable in-orbit. The robot's modular design additionally allows for expanded capabilities in the future.

Astrobee's modular design allows guest scientists to conduct diverse experiments to help develop technology for future space missions. The system is expected to play a crucial role in NASA's lunar exploration plans and other deep space missions, potentially serving as caretakers for spacecraft like the Lunar Gateway during crew absences.

{{Main|MIT Zero Robotics|l1=Zero Robotics}}

Zero Robotics is an annual international programming competition conducted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), in partnership with NASA and other organizations. Student teams program robotic platforms to solve a specific challenge involving navigation and control in microgravity environments aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

Initially, the competition used the SPHERES (Synchronized Position Hold Engage and Reorient Experimental Satellites) robotic platforms—free-flying robots used inside the ISS for research on satellite formation flying and control algorithms. Although referred to as "satellites," SPHERES were not orbiting the Earth independently but operated exclusively within the microgravity environment of the ISS.{{cite web |title=SPHERES Overview |url=https://www.nasa.gov/spheres/ |publisher=NASA |access-date=2025-06-03}}

In recent years, the competition transitioned to using Astrobee robots, a newer generation of free-flying robotic assistants developed by NASA for autonomous operation on the ISS. (This change began around 2022, following the retirement of SPHERES in 2019). The Astrobee system provides enhanced capabilities including vision-based navigation and more advanced computing power.{{cite web |title=Astrobee: A New Free-Flying Robot for the International Space Station |url=https://www.nasa.gov/astrobee/ |publisher=NASA |access-date=2025-06-03}}{{cite web |title=What is Zero Robotics? |url=https://zerorobotics.mit.edu/what-is-zr/ |publisher=MIT Zero Robotics |access-date=2025-06-03}}

The competition is held in two tiers: the middle school tournament and the high school tournament. Initial rounds take place in simulation, and the finalists' programs are uploaded to the robotic platforms aboard the ISS and executed in real time. The final event is broadcast live to audiences in the United States, Europe, and Australia.{{cite web |title=Zero Robotics – An MIT Space Programming Competition |url=https://www.media.mit.edu/projects/zero-robotics/overview/ |publisher=MIT Media Lab |access-date=2025-06-03}}

{{reflist}}

• [https://www.nasa.gov/astrobee/ NASA Astrobee Page]
• [https://www.nasa.gov/ames/ NASA Ames Research Center]

{{NASA}}

Category:Space robots

Category:NASA vehicles