GITAI S2 Robotic Arm Completes ISS Demonstration
GITAI S2 Robotic Arm Completes ISS Demonstration
Performs Autonomous Tasks Outside the Space Station
The autonomous robotic arm designated "S2", developed by space robotics startup GITAI, has completed all planned tasks in an external demonstration focusing on in-space servicing, assembly, and manufacturing (ISAM). These tasks, which are crucial for on-orbit satellite servicing, were accomplished using the 1.5-meter (5 foot) long autonomous dual robotic arm system (S2) outside the International Space Station. This milestone marks GITAI's second successful demonstration, following an earlier demonstration inside the ISS in 2021.
GITAI's goal is to offer on-orbit satellite servicing in both Geostationary Orbit (GEO) and Low Earth Orbit (LEO). The company is actively developing in-house robotic satellites capable of performing tasks such as rendezvous, docking, inspection, de-orbiting, and life extension services for customer satellites.
In this external demonstration at the ISS, the GITAI 1.5-meter-long autonomous dual robotic arm system (S2) successfully executed all planned in-space servicing, assembly, and manufacturing (ISAM) tasks outside the ISS Bishop Airlock. Although all tasks for this demonstration have been completed, reliability evaluation tests will continue for the remaining five months of the six-month demonstration period.
With the successful demonstration outside the ISS, the S2 system, developed by GITAI with all major components manufactured in-house, has attained NASA's Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 7, confirming that the technology is fully operational in space. Moreover, the demonstration's success has shown that GITAI's inchworm type robotic arm, sharing many major components with the S2 system, also achieves NASA TRL7 equivalence.
Leveraging the success of this external demonstration, we are poised to accelerate the in-house development of a robotic satellite for on-orbit services, aiming to begin providing on-orbit servicing in 2026.