Space spider reborn: China revives NASA’s orbital construction robot dream

Researchers at China’s Shenyang Institute of Automation are developing a SpiderFab-inspired robot for building structures in orbit.

In lab tests, the prototype has already made a small antenna model using carbon-fiber composites and laser bonding.

The system still needs major progress in autonomous assembly, precise alignment, and durability under microgravity and radiation.

If it works, satellites and other space infrastructure could be built directly in space, beyond rocket size limits.