Humanoid Robots Edge Closer to Space Missions Amid Infrastructure Push
Experts predict humanoids will soon support lunar and orbital infrastructure as robotics becomes critical to off-world construction and maintenance
Humanoid robots are edging closer to space missions as breakthroughs in planetary mobility, orbital servicing, and teleoperated systems converge. Experts predict these machines—equipped with torsos, arms, and dexterous hands—could soon be vital to building and maintaining extraterrestrial infrastructure, a task once reserved for astronauts.
Commercial players and defense agencies are accelerating investment, seeing robotics as essential to sustaining long-duration operations beyond Earth.
Planetary exploration is already advancing rapidly. NASA's Perseverance and other Mars rovers now carry sophisticated sensors capable of detecting organic materials, reflecting a growing ambition to uncover signs of life. Meanwhile, orbital robotics has shifted from fringe experiments to major strategic programs aimed at extending satellite lifespans, assembling large space structures, and removing orbital debris.
“Robots can survive in space, but it’s incredibly hard,” said Thomas Krüger, who leads the Human-Robot Interaction Lab at the European Space Agency (ESA). “Most of the robots we build in our lab would not survive one second out there. Space imposes harsh limits that ground-based robots never face.”
He added, “This is why infrastructure is key—communications satellites, a GPS network for the Moon, and other systems could make the lives of roboticists a bit easier.”
“It’s like the Wild West—everyone is rushing, putting a lot of money to be the first to do something in orbit,” said Maximo Roa, group leader for robotics at the German Aerospace Center (DLR), highlighting the intense competition. “We think that humanoids will play a role in space, mostly on the exploration of the Moon and the installation of new bases and habitats.”
The humanlike embodiment of humanoid robots allows teleoperators to intuitively control them, a crucial feature for conducting science and assembly tasks on alien terrain.
Designing Robots for Human Environments
The discussion unfolded at this year's Humanoids Summit in London, where leading researchers dissected the evolving role of robotics beyond Earth.
Luis Sentis, co-founder of Apptronik and professor at the University of Texas at Austin, highlighted that space habitats may initially be no larger than a minivan.
“Those are very small spaces, and that’s what the human body is—a great, articulated, whole-body dexterous machine,” he said. Such compact environments may actually favor humanoid robots, whose form factor suits the same confined layouts designed for astronauts.
Krüger stressed the advantage of humanlike hands.
“If they have proper hands, humanoids can use human tools,” he explained. “In stations like the future Lunar Gateway, they might be essential as station-keeping robots during the months when no astronauts are aboard.”
He added, “It’s difficult to beat the quality of human work, but humanoids could cover general tasks that are not worth building specialized machines for.”
Roa divided the field into three domains: planetary, orbital, and assistant robotics. He outlined upcoming missions, including ESA projects for in-orbit servicing and debris removal. He described orbital robotics as an emerging frontier attracting intense private investment.
He also noted that assistant robots on the International Space Station (ISS) are already being remotely controlled from space, offering a blueprint for future humanoid deployments on the Moon and Mars.
Commercial Momentum and Policy Shifts
The panel agreed that space robotics is shifting from government-dominated programs toward a mixed ecosystem of public and private actors.
Sentis cited the U.S. Space Force’s rapidly expanding budget—around $75 billion—as a sign of growing defense-led initiatives.
“Things are changing in the U.S.,” he said. “The nature of the funding is shifting—there’s more Department of Defense money, and the Space Force is gaining prominence. Their budget last year was $30 billion, now it’s heading toward $75 billion.”
He pointed to the rise of “mothership” concepts, where large orbital platforms deploy smaller humanoid or multi-limbed robots for inspection, repair, and assembly.
“Although people think humanoids are expensive, they’re less expensive than a mothership,” Sentis said. “If you can launch a mothership and have it attach to depots, to space vehicles, crawl, inspect, and repair, you can perform safe operations with far fewer human hours.”
This approach, he argued, is already being tested in U.S. defense projects.
Krüger drew parallels with the computer industry, where government-owned mainframes in the 1960s eventually gave way to a thriving private sector.
He expects a similar evolution in space, with government agencies like ESA focusing on high-risk foundational projects while private firms increasingly build operational systems.
“Government should fund the big, scary out-there bets,” he said, while companies monetize the resulting technologies.
Roa noted that Europe is actively nurturing a new generation of space startups working on launch systems, small satellites, and service-oriented applications. This reflects a broader “space 4.0” economy that prioritizes commercial services rather than purely exploration-led projects.
Although the U.S. retains a lead in mobilizing private capital, European actors are rapidly gaining ground.
He suggested that Europe’s emphasis on collaborative frameworks could also produce stronger international partnerships, potentially reducing geopolitical risk in off-world ventures.
The panelists discussed how funding structures are evolving. Venture capital is increasingly flowing into robotic servicing companies, and several panelists observed that even university spin-offs are attracting sizable Series A rounds.
They noted that governments are subtly repositioning themselves as anchor customers rather than sole sponsors, an approach that encourages firms to pursue sustainable business models instead of relying solely on grants.
Human-Robot Collaboration
The panelists acknowledged that humans will remain central to deep-space exploration for the foreseeable future, but argued that humanoids could dramatically reduce operational costs.
Roa estimated that an astronaut’s labor costs around $120,000–$140,000 per hour, making robotic assistance economically compelling.
However, he and Krüger cautioned that current artificial intelligence cannot yet match human versatility. As such, future missions are likely to feature hybrid crews of humans, humanoids, and specialized robotic systems.
Sentis framed the issue in demographic terms, suggesting that humanity may ultimately need to expand off-world to sustain long-term population growth and resource access.
Achieving this, he argued, will require large-scale robotic infrastructure building, with humanoids playing a critical role alongside cranes, autonomous spacecraft, and other machines. He also forecast that as extraterrestrial colonies become self-sufficient, they could eventually seek political autonomy, echoing the decolonization of past terrestrial empires.
The panel emphasized that this hybrid approach would leverage the complementary strengths of humans and machines.
While humans bring adaptability and judgment, humanoids can operate continuously and endure radiation or microgravity environments without risk to life. This synergy could redefine mission design, enabling longer stays and larger construction projects without exponentially escalating crew costs.
Toward Human-Compatible Spacecraft
An audience question probed whether spacecraft are now being redesigned around robots rather than humans.
Roa replied that spacecraft are increasingly integrating robotic arms and becoming “full structures, becoming a robot.” Sentis added that U.S. defense initiatives are already experimenting with multi-appendage systems deployed from motherships, suggesting that spacecraft could one day be purpose-built for humanoid teams.
Ultimately, the panel painted a future where humanoids are not standalone replacements for astronauts but part of an interdependent ecosystem. Their greatest value may lie in bridging the gap—operating in human-designed spaces when humans cannot, and enabling continuous construction and maintenance as humanity extends its reach deeper into the solar system.