Nanoracks and GITAI Partner for Second In-Space Demonstration of Robotic System on the ISS

Robotic demonstration paves way for commercial in-space operations

Nanoracks, powered by Voyager Space, announced its second Bishop Airlock mission with GITAI, a Japanese space robotics startup. The project, marking the two companies’ second collaboration, will involve demonstrating “S2,” GITAI’s 1.5 meter-class dexterous robotic system, on the Bishop Airlock – the first permanent, commercial platform added to the International Space Station.

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In 2021, Nanoracks and GITAI successfully completed their first mission, demonstrating how leveraging the Bishop Airlock, a GITAI robot can execute versatile tasks such as In-space Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing (ISAM) and help save valuable astronaut time by robotically handling necessary crew activities. The second mission will demonstrate an expansion of these capabilities. ISAM tasks will be demonstrated in an externally hosted site on the Bishop Airlock and are intended to showcase GITAI’s capability of providing extravehicular robotic systems that are durable in a space environment. This mission will utilize a full open-close cycle of the Bishop Airlock

“This mission is a key stepping-stone towards commercialization of LEO enabling both government and private sectors to obtain robust and high-performance robotics in space,” said Dr. Amela Wilson, CEO of Nanoracks. “We look forward to completing a successful demonstration of GITAI’s space robotics technology.”

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Notably, GITAI’s latest technical demonstration will be key in exhibiting how commercial activities could be conducted on Starlab, Nanoracks’ and Voyager’s planned continuously crewed, free-flying commercial space station, for payloads and other potentially needed maintenance.

“Missions like this allow the Nanoracks team to test and execute on space station operations that will be critical for customer success on Starlab,” continues Wilson. “The International Space Station is a testbed that continues to provide unparalleled opportunities for Nanoracks to master executing in-space activities, and we’re grateful for NASA’s continued support on the ISS today, and for the onboarding of new commercial space stations.”

“There are a tremendous number of applications in space that our robotic arm can be used for, including on-orbit servicing and lunar exploration, and we are thrilled to be able to partner with Nanoracks yet again,” said Sho Nakanose, founder and CEO of GITAI. “Our vision is to provide an affordable and safe means of labor in space, and this opportunity on the Bishop Airlock brings us one step closer to making that happen.”

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