Astronaut Suni Williams & Astrobee Robotic Teammate | International Space Station

Astronaut Suni Williams & Astrobee Robotic Teammate | International Space Station

In this image, Astrobee, a robot that looks like a small black cube with two blue tentacle-like arms on top can be seen. Behind it, NASA astronaut Suni Williams stretches her arms out to match Astrobee's arms. 

NASA astronaut and Expedition 72 Commander Suni Williams can be seen checking out the Astrobee robotic free-flyer in the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's Kibo laboratory module. Astrobee is outfitted with tentacle-like arms containing gecko-like adhesive pads to demonstrate satellite capture techniques. Development of this robotic technology may increase the life span of satellites and enable the removal of space debris.

Astrobee robots help astronauts reduce time they spend on routine duties, leaving them to focus more on the things that only humans can do. Working autonomously or via remote control by astronauts, flight controllers or researchers on the ground, the robots are designed to complete tasks such as taking inventory, documenting experiments conducted by astronauts with their built-in cameras or working together to move cargo throughout the station. In addition, the system serves as a research platform that can be outfitted and programmed to carry out experiments in microgravity—helping us to learn more about how robotics can benefit astronauts in space.

Learn more about the Astrobee free-flying robotic system:
https://www.nasa.gov/astrobee/

Expedition 72 Updates:

https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/

Expedition 72 Crew

Station Commander: Suni Williams
Roscosmos (Russia): Alexey Ovchinin, Ivan Vagner, Aleksandr Gorbunov
NASA: Butch Wilmore, Don Pettit, Nick Hague

An international partnership of space agencies provides and operates the elements of the International Space Station (ISS). The principals are the space agencies of the United States, Russia, Europe, Japan, and Canada.

Learn more about the important research being operated on Station:
https://www.nasa.gov/iss-science 
For more information about STEM on Station:
https://www.nasa.gov/stemonstation
Science, Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM)

Image Credit: NASA
Release Date: Dec. 3, 2024

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