NASA Develops Humanoid Robots for Space Exploration

The Johnson Space Center team creates hardware to support crew safety and productivity on future Mars missions.

Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Robotics

Isometric editorial illustration of a humanoid robot torso with articulated arms standing in a simulated planetary rock yard. — NASA's Dexterous Robotics Team is developing humanoid robots to enhance operational safety and productivity for future crewed missions to Mars and the Moon. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Would you feel comfortable working alongside advanced robots to complete difficult or risky tasks?

NASA's Dexterous Robotics Team designs and tests hardware and software for robots intended to operate in environments built for or alongside humans. The team utilizes the iMETRO facility in Houston to simulate conditions for lunar and deep-space missions.

Why it matters

Robotic integration is intended to reduce human risk and enhance operational productivity in extreme environments. This research supports NASA's long-term objectives for sustainable human exploration, including upcoming missions to Mars.

The Dexterous Robotics Team operates with a core staff of 16 members at the Johnson Space Center. They rely on the iMETRO facility, which integrates software simulations with physical habitat mockups to validate robotic systems.

The players

NASA Dexterous Robotics Team

A specialized group within the Robotic System Technology Branch at Johnson Space Center focused on humanoid robot development.

PickNik Inc.

A robotics software company that collaborates with NASA to test robotic arm manipulation technologies.

The details

The team designs humanoid robots, such as the bipedal Valkyrie, to function in human-centric workspaces where dexterous manipulation is required. The iMETRO environment facilitates testing by providing a digital and physical testbed, including an outdoor rock yard for planetary surface simulation. Private partners, such as PickNik Inc., have utilized these facilities to test software, including robotic arm control systems for spacecraft hatch operations.

The Robonaut 2 robot completed seven years of technology demonstrations aboard the International Space Station.

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The Tech Race

The development of bipedal systems like Valkyrie reflects a broader institutional focus on high-dexterity robotics for non-structured space environments. These efforts extend the operational lessons learned during the seven-year Robonaut 2 demonstration aboard the International Space Station.

The technologies developed by the team are currently focused on specialized space environments rather than immediate commercial or consumer applications. Future integration of these robotic systems will focus on enhancing safety for crew members during long-duration Mars missions.

The takeaway

NASA is refining robotic dexterity to bridge the gap between human labor and automated exploration in high-risk zones. Readers can track the program's evolution by monitoring the agency's upcoming public technology challenge for Mars-related systems.