NASA Wants Your Robot Arm Experiment to Fly in Space
Your lab idea could run on a real robot orbiting Earth.
NASA’s Space Roboticist Challenge is opening access to a 7-degree-of-freedom robotic arm in low Earth orbit — an actual active system in microgravity, not a simulation. U.S.-based researchers can propose a short, focused experiment to run on the arm. Up to 15 teams advance from Phase 1 white papers to Phase 2 simulation and validation at NASA Goddard, and teams that pass may receive on-orbit experiment time. Open to U.S. citizens and permanent residents at eligible U.S. institutions. Registration closes September 23, 2026, and white papers are due October 2, 2026.
- NASA is offering a real 7-joint robot arm in orbit for U.S. researchers to test their robotics ideas.
- Registration closes September 23, 2026, with white papers due October 2 — no entry fee mentioned.
- Winning experiments could shape future space missions and lead to smarter robots here on Earth.
Why It Matters
A rare open door for scientists to test space robotics, speeding up discoveries that improve satellite repair and everyday tech.