# Caltech's ASTRA robot assembles a third reflector section in orbit; 11 sections were planned

- Published: 2026-11-07 16:09 UTC
- Section: Sky & Space › Space
- Tags: Caltech ASTRA, in-space assembly, robotic assembly in orbit, reflector antenna, NOM4D, Vigoride 7, Transporter-16, space telescope construction, tensioned reflector film
- URL: https://realtech.media/news/rt-6ffbe8cef344fbc460831991_caltech_s_astra/

**A Caltech robot built a reflector section in low Earth orbit, testing a way to assemble antennas and telescopes too large to fit inside a rocket.**

![Caltech's ASTRA robot assembles a third reflector section in orbit; 11 sections were planned](https://realtech.media/media/2026/11/d7e38fc27fd25127.jpg)
*NASA Johnson Space Center, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain*

A robotic payload from Caltech has assembled part of a reflector antenna in low Earth orbit, according to knowridge.com. The payload, ASTRA (Autonomous In-Space Tensioned Reflector Assembly), launched on March 30, 2026, aboard Momentus's Vigoride 7 vehicle on SpaceX's Transporter-16 mission. It was one of ten payloads carried by the host vehicle. [1]

## What ASTRA did in orbit

ASTRA was developed under DARPA's NOM4D program. The intended demonstration was a reflector antenna about 1.4 meters across, made of composite tubes, aluminum joints and a lightweight reflective surface. [1] After the payload reached orbit, the team sent commands through the host spacecraft to release restraints and start assembly operations. [1]

The builder carried two sections that had been made on Earth. It deployed them and constructed a third section in orbit, so the demonstration covered an assembly step rather than the unfolding of a fully prebuilt structure. [1] A robotic manipulator picks up components, places them on an assembly plate and joins them into a section. The design then attaches a perforated reflective film held under tension by springs and pushes completed sections outward. The payload carries 11 cameras, which let the team inspect construction and identify problems from the ground. [1]

The film was developed with collaborators at the University of Pennsylvania. It needs less tension than some conventional knitted reflector meshes, which could allow lighter supporting structures. [1]

## Troubleshooting and limits

Solving problems required considerable work on Earth. The team used a duplicate builder in the laboratory to reproduce faults, test solutions and prepare revised instructions, which were sent during short communication windows with the spacecraft. [1]

The planned structure comprises 11 sections. The team reported that completing it before the end of the mission appeared unlikely. The result therefore shows a viable assembly approach and, at the same time, the need to simplify and refine the mechanism. [1]

Larger reflectors, communications antennas or solar arrays are named as possible future uses, but they remain goals. The demonstration tested construction, not a functioning telescope or power system. The initial orbital assembly will help engineers decide how to improve the next design. [1]

## Sources

1. [knowridge.com](https://knowridge.com/2026/11/caltech-robot-builds-in-space-paving-the-way-for-giant-telescopes)

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Source: RealTech, realtech.media — https://realtech.media/news/rt-6ffbe8cef344fbc460831991_caltech_s_astra/