Honda Wants to Put a Robotic Lab Assistant on Future Commercial Space Stations

As I’m writing this I’m able to stare out into my driveway at my trusty Honda Odyssey. Now, it’s teaming up with space infrastructure firm Redwire to develop an automated laboratory support system for use on future commercial space stations.

NASA plans to deorbit the station, which is about the size of a football field, around 2030, crashing it into the remotest part of the Pacific Ocean. In its place, a crop of private companies, such as Axiom Space, Vast, and Orbital Reef are hoping to launch their own versions of space stations, in which NASA will be simply one customer among many.

Redwire itself is providing a reaching/motion platform known as Space Technology Autonomous Agile Robotic Kit (STAARK), which is assumedly named after Iron Man, but with enough of a difference to keep Disney satisfied. Redwire itself already has plenty of experience in orbital research, and manages eight operational science facilities onboard the ISS currently.

In theory, some of the early commercial space stations, such as Haven-1 from Vast and Axiom Station from Axiom Space, could launch as early as next year. To introduce the concept, the company released a press release, and will be attending the International Astronautical Congress (IAC), currently happening in Antalya, Turkey through October 9th.

Automation will undoubtedly play a major role in future space stations, and Honda / Redwire’s offering sounds appealing with its impressive technical capabilities. Honda - Honda Explores Robotics Solution to Support Research Aboard Future Commercial Space Stations UT - An Astronaut Controls a Robotic Dog From Orbit UT - Level Up! .

NASA's Space Station Robot Getting 'Climbing' Legs Andy has been interested in space exploration ever since reading Pale Blue Dot in middle school.

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