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NASA has signed a new agreement with California-based Arkisys to keep its Astrobee robots operating aboard the International Space Station. The deal, announced this year, allows Arkisys to maintain the free-flying machines that help astronauts with daily tasks and test robotic systems for future missions to the Moon and Mars.
The Astrobee robots (nicknamed Bumble, Honey, and Queen) have been floating inside the station since 2019. Each is a cube about one foot wide, built to handle chores such as inventory checks and filming experiments. They replaced NASA’s older SPHERES robots, which ran for more than a decade as a testbed for similar technologies.
Astrobee moves by blowing air through small electric fans instead of using wheels or legs. Cameras and sensors help the robots avoid obstacles, and each carries a mechanical arm to grip handrails when idle. They can be run autonomously or operated remotely from Earth. NASA also made their software open-source, letting researchers worldwide write new programs and test experiments in orbit.
Under the Space Act Agreement, Arkisys will take on the job of keeping Astrobee in working order. NASA reimburses the company for its services, ensuring the system stays ready for scientific and commercial use. Arkisys was selected earlier this year after NASA issued a call for private partners.
The partnership also gives Arkisys a chance to test new tools in weightlessness. Known for its work on orbital platforms and spaceport concepts, the company could eventually apply lessons from Astrobee to spacecraft servicing and construction in orbit.
Robots like Astrobee are seen as vital for future missions beyond Earth orbit. On long trips to Mars, they could monitor spacecraft and handle maintenance when crews are busy or unavailable. On the Moon, they might keep habitats running between astronaut visits under NASA’s Artemis program.
The ISS has served as a test ground for nearly 25 years, and NASA says collaborations with private companies help speed up progress. Astrobee has already been used for student coding competitions and experimental demonstrations. With Arkisys now supporting operations, the system is expected to remain a key part of NASA’s robotics research for years to come.
