The recent collaboration between the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) and Space Solar marks a before and after in automated on-orbit assembly. During a successful demonstration at the Culham campus in Oxfordshire, dual-arm robotic manipulators were tested, demonstrating that large-scale solar power satellite construction can be done without human intervention.
The role of robots in the assembly of solar satellites
The AlbaTRUSS project, the core of this initiative, demonstrated the ability to assemble modular structures under extreme conditions. These structures, several kilometers long and more than 20 meters wide, are designed to capture constant solar energy and transfer it to Earth via microwaves. As explained by Dr. Sam Adlen, co-CEO of Space Solar, this system would allow the power grids to be fed with clean and stable electricity.
The benefits of this type of assembly are compelling. Robots eliminate risks to astronauts, can operate in high-radiation environments, and offer great flexibility in assembling and disassembling infrastructure. Professor Rob Buckingham, chief executive of UKAEA, highlighted the synergy between nuclear fusion and space technology, noting that both share common challenges such as remote operation and resistance to adverse conditions.
This on-orbit remote manufacturing technology is projected to be a key building block for data centers and space-based solar platforms. data centers and space-based solar platforms platforms that operate without interruption. Space Solar, for its part, plans to commission its first 30 MW demonstrator system its first 30 MW demonstrator system in 2029 and scale up to gigawatt level early in the next decade.
The project has received backing from the UK’s Science and Technology Facilities Council, reaffirming the UK’s vision of leadership in sustainable energy and space assembly.
The future of space infrastructure seems increasingly tangible, with robots capable of creating clean and constant power environments for Earth and beyond.
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Source and photo: United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority.
