NASA

NASA develops and uses robotic systems for space exploration, science missions and astronaut support. Its robotics work includes planetary rovers, free-flying robots, autonomous spacecraft systems, robotic servicing, surface assembly and autonomy tools for missions where direct human control is limited.

Facts

Segment: Space
Country: United States
Founded: 1958
Website: https://www.nasa.gov

Commercial

1 commercial event; 1 contract award; latest event 2026-01-09

2026-01-09 - Contract award - HEBI Robotics awarded $850K NASA SBIR Phase II contract for modular space actuators - source: hebirobotics.com

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Supply

Astrobotic - Inbound - Ground Robotics - Astrobotic delivered CubeRover hardware to NASA Kennedy Space Center under its SBIR Phase II contract - source: astrobotic.com
Machina Labs - Inbound - Robotic Manufacturing - Machina fabricated a tool-free toroidal tank structure for NASA from digital geometry using RoboCraftsman - source: machinalabs.ai
Lunar Outpost - Inbound - Oem Builders - NASA selected Lunar Outpost's Pegasus lunar terrain vehicle for a Phase 1 Lunar Terrain Vehicle Services task order - source: nasa.gov

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Timeline

2026-07-15 - Capability - Wisk and NASA complete three-aircraft autonomy supervision trial - The exercise tested a 1:3 supervisor-to-aircraft concept on routes between Moffett Field and San Martin Airport. Controllers continued using existing procedures and tools while scenarios included operational contingencies. The trial formed part of Wisk’s… - source: wisk.aero
2026-04-11 - Demonstration - Innate runs 25 MARS robots at Y Combinator RoboHacks - Innate and Iterate co-hosted the two-day robotics hackathon at Y Combinator's San Francisco office. More than 120 builders developed projects using at least 25 general-purpose MARS robots. NASA, Google DeepMind and other technology organizations supported… - source: events.trymimetic.com
2026-02-16 - Partnership - NASA selects Orbit Fab for Lunar Gateway fluid-transfer work - Orbit Fab is working with NASA on a coolant coupling for Gateway's thermal-control architecture. The work addresses reliable fluid transfer in the lunar-orbit environment. The project extends Orbit Fab's interface experience beyond propellant refueling into… - source: orbitfab.com

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Team

Sean Duffy - Acting NASA Administrator - Duffy is the current agency leader for NASA programs relevant to space robotics and autonomy.

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Relations

Orbit Fab - Lunar Gateway Partner - NASA selected Orbit Fab to develop a Lunar Gateway coolant fluid coupling.
Elroy Air - Airspace Integration Partner - Elroy Air and NASA collaborate on safe integration of autonomous cargo aircraft into U.S. airspace.
Apptronik - Technology And Team Lineage - Apptronik was founded by engineers from NASA's Valkyrie programme and later collaborated with NASA on several robot systems.

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