---
title: "The Pentagon Wants to Build Satellite-Repairing Droids"
description: "DARPA announced plans to invest in space-traveling droids that could repair high-altitude satellites, which would drive down the cost of new satellites."
date: "2019-04-25"
modified: "2019-04-25"
authors:
  - name: "Dan Robitzski"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/danrobitzski"
url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/pentagon-satellite-repairing-droids"
categories:
  - "Off-World"
  - "Space"
tags:
  - "DARPA"
  - "robots"
  - "space"
  - "the digest"
---

# The Pentagon Wants to Build Satellite-Repairing Droids

![DARPA announced plans to invest in space-traveling droids that could repair high-altitude satellites, which would drive down the cost of new satellites.](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/pentagon-satellite-repairing-droids.png>)
*\<em\>Image: USAF\</em\>*

## Astromech Droids

The Pentagon's research division, DARPA, wants to develop space robots that can visit high-altitude satellites and conduct repairs when something breaks down.

The repair-bots are expected to service the satellites and spacecraft orbiting Earth at around 22,000 miles, [according to *Nextgov*](<https://www.nextgov.com/emerging-tech/2019/04/pentagon-investing-space-robots-repair-satellites/156426/>). The fleet would not only provide support for a U.S. Space Force but could also potentially enable explorations deeper into space.

## Calling All Developers

DARPA [announced last week](<https://www.fbo.gov/index.php?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=92e60411e8520e240abee2f937d8f462&tab=core&_cview=0>) that it would host a so-called Proposers Day to any agencies or teams that might want to build out the real-world astromech droids in late May.

Once the robots are up and running, they could save the government and other space agencies a great deal of money — high-altitude satellites are currently built with several expensive redundancies because repairs are often out of the question, *Nextgov* reports. If a droid could be shuttled up to the satellite and fix the broken parts, those redundant components become unnecessary.

Not only would that mean a [robust satellite network](<https://futurism.com/spacex-launch-air-force-satellite>), but more money for space agencies that could go to other projects.

**READ MORE:** [The Pentagon is Investing in Space Robots to Repair Satellites](<https://www.nextgov.com/emerging-tech/2019/04/pentagon-investing-space-robots-repair-satellites/156426/>) \[*Nextgov*\]

**More on satellites:** *[SpaceX Launches Next-Generation Air Force GPS Satellite](<https://futurism.com/spacex-launch-air-force-satellite>)*

## Author
Dan Robitzki is a senior reporter for Futurism, where he likes to cover AI, tech ethics, and medicine. He spends his extra time fencing and streaming games from Los Angeles, California.

### Author social links  
[Twitter](<https://x.com/danrobitzski>)