A Chinese aerospace startup has achieved a major breakthrough by successfully demonstrating a flexible robotic arm in orbit, marking a key advancement for the nation’s commercial space sector and orbital refueling capabilities aimed at extending spacecraft lifespans. The Yuxing-3 06 satellite, launched on March 16 aboard a Kuaizhou-11 rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, has completed a series of intricate in-orbit operations using this innovative manipulator.
These operations included simulations of autonomous programmed refueling, ground-controlled refueling, and vision-guided servo refueling, showcasing the arm’s versatility and precision. The flexible robotic arm was developed by Sustain Space, a company led by a team from Tsinghua University’s Shenzhen International Graduate School. The device features a flexible, continuum hollow arm with a rear-mounted cable drive transmission system, allowing it to perform precise docking maneuvers with fueling ports at altitudes of several hundred thousand meters.
Unlike conventional rigid robotic arms, this flexible manipulator functions similarly to an elephant’s trunk, capable of curling, twisting, and coiling to navigate complex and confined environments. This test represents a significant step forward for China’s commercial space industry in the field of on-orbit servicing, the Suzhou-based company.
Wang Xueqian, the leader of the Tsinghua research team who has dedicated over ten years to advancing space robotics, emphasized the importance of such technology. He noted, “When a car breaks down, you can take it to a service center for repair, but what do you do when a spacecraft breaks down in space?” Wang highlighted that space robots have the potential to perform extravehicular operations, refuel and repair spacecraft, and even clear space debris.
In a related development, China launched the Shijian-25 test satellite in January 2025, which primarily focused on verifying technologies for satellite fuel replenishment and extending operational lifespans. This recent success with the flexible robotic arm builds on those efforts, signaling growing capabilities in orbital servicing and commercial space operations.
