UK robotics breakthrough sets hopes for future space-based solar power

A new robotics demonstration by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) and space technology company Space Solar has taken big steps towards constructing large-scale infrastructure in space

The project, known as AlbaTRUSS, successfully demonstrates how robotic systems can autonomously build key components of space-based solar power satellites, potentially creating a future where robots can construct vast structures in orbit without human presence.

Automating satellite assembly

Conducted at UKAEA’s advanced test facilities on the Culham Campus in Oxfordshire, the AlbaTRUSS project demonstrated the use of dual-arm robotic manipulators to assemble a crucial structural component known as a longeron.

This tubing forms the backbone of modular satellites designed to harvest solar energy in space and transmit it to Earth.

The robots used in the demonstration were remotely operated, mimicking the conditions expected in space environments. This approach significantly reduces risks to astronauts and improves efficiency, enabling the development of more complex and ambitious infrastructure beyond Earth’s atmosphere.

A safer, more efficient route to space infrastructure

The success of AlbaTRUSS opens new possibilities for constructing gigawatt-scale solar power stations in orbit.

Unlike usual satellites, which are often compact and self-contained, Space Solar’s concept involves assembling vast structures several kilometres long and up to 20 metres wide. These space-based solar power stations are designed to capture the Sun’s energy 24 hours a day and beam it back to Earth using microwave transmission. The energy would then be collected by ground-based antennas and converted into electricity for the power grid.

This approach offers a significant advantage over Earth-bound solar installations, which are limited by weather, seasonal light variations, and nighttime darkness. In contrast, space-based systems can deliver continuous, low-carbon power, addressing growing global demand while supporting sustainability targets.

Space-based solar power systems

The collaboration also shows the synergy between space and fusion energy sectors. Both fields require technologies capable of operating in extreme environments, including those with vacuum conditions and radiation exposure. The UKAEA’s Centre for Remote Applications in Challenging Environments (RACE), renowned for its work on remotely operated systems for nuclear fusion, provided the ideal testing ground for AlbaTRUSS.

The skills and technologies developed for fusion energy projects are proving highly relevant for space applications. As the UK advances with fusion as a long-term energy solution, this partnership demonstrates how cross-sector collaboration can accelerate innovation in adjacent industries, such as in-space assembly and manufacturing.

Space Solar is targeting 2029 for the launch of its first 30-megawatt demonstrator, with complete gigawatt-scale satellite systems expected by the early 2030s. These ambitious plans, supported by the Science and Technology Facilities Council’s Proof of Concept grant, aim to position the UK as a leader in the emerging space-based energy sector.

The successful demonstration of robotic assembly in space conditions represents a key milestone not only for renewable energy but for the future of infrastructure beyond Earth.