NASA develops humanoid robots for lunar and Mars missions

NASA’s Dexterous Robotics team is developing advanced humanoid robots to support astronauts during upcoming lunar missions under the Artemis program and future missions to Mars. These robots, including Valkyrie and Robonaut 2, are designed to handle dangerous and repetitive maintenance tasks to increase crew safety rather than replace human personnel.

The systems are undergoing rigorous testing at the iMETRO facility within the Johnson Space Center to ensure durability against extreme temperatures, solar radiation, and abrasive lunar dust. The robots are being trained for delicate tasks such as operating spacecraft doors and transporting scientific equipment, serving as precursors to the establishment of a permanent lunar base.