A helping hand

The cube floating at the front of this image is one of three Astrobees – semi-autonomous robots that fly around inside the International Space Station (ISS) helping astronauts with routine duties (think ‘busy work’, such as taking inventory, filming experiments and moving cargo). But this one’s just had an upgrade, in the form of those blue, tentacle-like appendages protruding from its top.
The Responsive Engaging Arms for Captive Care and Handling (REACCH) system is being developed to handle satellite maintenance. For now, however, it’s being put through its paces inside the ISS – under the watchful eye of NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, the commander of Expedition 72.
REACCH’s design consists of ...

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BBC Science Focus (Digital) - 1 Issue, March 2025

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