Technology & AI
NASA team builds robot helpers for astronauts
A NASA team in Houston tests robots that can open a hatch, move cargo bags and look after a freezer.
A team at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston is developing robots for tasks that people do with their hands. NASA described this group, the Dexterous Robotics Team, in an article published on September 28, 2026. The team has 16 members, and it works on both robot hardware and the software that controls it.
According to NASA, advanced robots can help astronauts get more work done while reducing the risks they face. Shaun Azimi, who leads the team, says that they are not trying to replace human explorers with robots. Instead, they want reliable robots that can work in extreme places and make exploration safer for people.
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Able to be trusted to work well and to do what people expect.
Instead, they want reliable robots that can work in extreme places and make exploration safer for people.