Robots May Construct Large Solar Power Arrays in Space

Key Takeaways

Robots are being tested to construct large solar power arrays in space, minimizing risks to astronauts.
Space Solar aims to create satellites that capture solar energy and transmit it to Earth continuously.
The collaboration between UKAEA and Space Solar could lead to new economic and sustainable energy opportunities.

Innovative Robotic Solutions for Space Construction

Researchers from the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) and space-tech company Space Solar are exploring how robots could construct massive solar power arrays in space, significantly reducing the need for human astronauts in hazardous environments. The project, dubbed AlbaTRUSS, successfully demonstrated the capabilities of dual-arm robotic manipulators to assemble components for potential solar power satellites at UKAEA’s testing grounds in Oxfordshire.

The interest in space-based solar energy is grounded in the concept of harnessing solar power from a location where sunlight is constant—outer space. Dr Sam Adlen, Co-CEO of Space Solar, noted, “The AlbaTRUSS project is a milestone not just for our satellite architecture, but for the future of large-scale structures in space.” Unlike terrestrial solar panels, which are impeded by nighttime and atmospheric conditions, space solar arrays can generate energy consistently, capturing sunlight around the clock. These satellites will beam energy back to Earth as microwaves, which can then be converted into electricity.

The AlbaTRUSS experiment emphasized the robots’ ability to construct structural components, or truss bays, essential for building large satellites—structures potentially several kilometers long and about 20 meters wide. This approach contrasts significantly with existing methods, where astronauts perform complex and dangerous tasks in space, such as the assembly of the International Space Station.

Using robots has numerous advantages: they do not require oxygen, fatigue, or put human lives at risk in critical scenarios. The UKAEA’s specialized RACE facility, which develops robotics for challenging environments, finds commonalities between the construction of fusion reactors and space structures. Professor Rob Buckingham, UKAEA’s Executive Director, highlights these synergies, suggesting that techniques used in terrestrial power plants could seamlessly translate to extraterrestrial construction.

This collaboration underscores the UK’s ambition to explore sustainable energy pathways. While fusion energy promises a clean power source on Earth, space-based solar energy offers a potentially inexhaustible supply from orbit. The project also aims to position the UK as a leader in the emerging In-Space Assembly and Manufacturing sector.

Looking ahead, Space Solar plans to establish a 30MW demonstration system by 2029, with ambitions to expand to a full gigawatt capacity by the early 2030s, capable of powering hundreds of thousands of households. While several technological challenges remain, the successful assembly of solar arrays sets a vital precedent. The interplay between the nuclear and space industries could catalyze the innovations necessary to address pressing energy and climate challenges.

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