History of space robotics

The Japanese program Kiku-7, or “Engineering Test Satellite-7”, which in 1997 was the first satellite to demonstrate automated robot operations in orbit
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The Orbital Express program, conducted by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), which demonstrated autonomous docking and robotic replacement of parts in 2007
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The many space robotics programs and missions of the Canadian company MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates (MDA), including the Canadarm on the Space Shuttles and Canadarm 2 on the International Space Station
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The many space robotics programs of the German Aerospace Center (known by its German initials DLR), including the ROKVISS experiment operated for many years on the ISS
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Current programs in space robotics

 

 

 

 

The Robotic Servicing of Geosynchronous Satellites (RSGS) program, jointly being developed by DARPA and the satellite manufacturer SSL

https://spectrum.ieee.org/aerospace/satellites/inside-darpas-mission-to-send-a-repair-robot-to-geosynchronous-orbit

A brief DARPA description of the RSGS program

https://www.darpa.mil/program/robotic-servicing-of-geosynchronous-satellites

The Effective Space SpaceDroneTM, a small robotic satellite that helps other satellites last longer on orbit

https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/58bc6d_8417f4086c4e4df8a9da9a8662754382.pdf

 

 

Future concepts

The robotic revolution that’s about to happen in Earth orbit 

https://room.eu.com/magazines/read/27#page/16

A robotic space station, for testing new technologies, deploying satellites, and hosting experiments just like today’s International Space Station, but without humans

http://www.thespacereview.com/article/3548/1

A very detailed study of how to use robots to manufacture rocket fuel on the Moon, using the water ice that has been discovered there

http://www.philipmetzger.com

A visionary paper on planning for a space logistics infrastructure

https://www.mikesnead.com/resources/spacefaring/tech_paper_spacefaring_logistics_infrastructure_planning_2018_update_20180821.pdf