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US firm's 'tow truck for space' inspired by gecko feet tested on ISS

US firm's 'tow truck for space' inspired by gecko feet tested on ISS
Source: interestingengineering
Author: @IntEngineering
Published: 7/17/2025

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US-based company Kall Morris Inc. has developed a novel robotic arm system called Responsive Engaging Arms for Captive Care and Handling (REACCH), inspired by the adhesive properties of gecko feet and the dexterity of octopus limbs. This technology enables the robotic arms to selectively grasp and manipulate space objects without requiring docking ports or attachment points, significantly enhancing satellite servicing capabilities. During a recent mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS), a four-arm version of REACCH successfully completed 172 capture cycles before returning to Earth via a SpaceX Dragon capsule. The company plans to deploy a full-sized eight-arm system commercially by 2027. The REACCH system can handle objects ranging from about 250 mm in diameter (roughly the size of a basketball) up to approximately 6.5 meters, allowing it to service a wide variety of satellites and potentially capture space debris. By enabling non-destructive and reversible capture of unprepared objects, this technology could facilitate satellite maintenance, orbit

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roboticsspace-technologysatellite-servicingrobotic-armbiomimicryspace-debris-removalISS-experiments