Astrobees Make Space Debut

NASA has sent three new members to the International Space Station who will be accommodating scientists and other researchers who are going to make a stop or even stay at the ISS. They are called the Astrobees, flying robots who will help astronauts with their missions.

“The main purpose of the Astrobee platform is to provide a zero-gravity testbed for guest scientists to try out new robotic technologies in space,” says Maria Bualat, Astrobee project manager at NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley, in a press statement.

“Astrobee will prove out robotic capabilities that will enable and enhance human exploration. Performing such experiments in zero gravity will ultimately help develop new hardware and software for future space missions.”

(Image credit: NASA's Ames Research Center/Dominic Hart)