RRM-TD, India’s First Space Robotic Arm, Operates In Space (Screengrab) | X/@isro
New Delhi: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Saturday successfully operated its first-ever space robotic arm, Relocatable Robotic Manipulator-Technology Demonstrator (RRM-TD), aboard the POEM4 platform. The development marked a significant milestone in the country’s space exploration endeavours. The ISRO also shared the video of the RRM-TD operating onboard the POEM4 .
“RRM_TD, India’s first space robotic arm, is in action onboard #POEM4! A proud #MakeInIndia milestone in space robotics,” the space agency said while sharing the video. The text overlaid on the video reads, “Unlocking and lifting from base position.”
Here’s The Video Shared By ISRO:
Today’s development is a part of ISRO’s SpaDeX (Space Docking Experiment) mission. It was launched on December 30 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.
RRM-TD is also called the walking robotic arm. It is developed by Inertial Systems Unit (IISU) of the ISRO. There are seven movable joints in the robotic arm. It can relocate itself like an inchworm to specific targets on the PS4-Orbital Experiment Module (POEM-4) platform in space, reported India Today.
About The SpaDeX Mission:
SpaDeX mission is a cost-effective technology demonstrator mission for the demonstration of in-space docking using two small spacecraft launched by PSLV, as per the ISRO. This technology is essential for India’s space ambitions such as Indian on Moon, sample return from the Moon, the building and operation of Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS), etc. In-space docking technology is essential when multiple rocket launches are required to achieve common mission objectives. Through this mission, India is marching towards becoming the fourth country in the world to have space docking technology.
The primary objective of the SpaDeX mission is to develop and demonstrate the technology needed for rendezvous, docking, and undocking of two small spacecraft (SDX01, which is the Chaser, and SDX02, the Target, nominally) in a low-Earth circular orbit.
