Russia Plans First Orbital Station to Be Serviced by Autonomous Robots

The Russian government has patented a system to equip its future space station with robotic maintenance units, aiming to deploy it by 2030.

Russia has secured a patent for technology enabling a space station to be maintained by onboard robots. The system will be tested on the upcoming Russian Orbital Station and later integrated into the country's lunar program, according to Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov, as reported by TASS.

Manturov emphasized that Russia aims to gradually transition to operating its own orbital station by 2030. The facility will be the world’s first drone-like platform with robotic self-servicing capabilities—a solution now formally patented.

The project is currently in development. According to the approved timeline, deployment in a near-polar orbit is scheduled to take place between 2027 and 2033.

The first module to be launched is the scientific and power unit (NEM), targeted for late 2027. By 2030, this will be joined by a universal docking module, an airlock, and a core habitat, together forming the station’s nucleus.

During the second phase, from 2031 to 2033, two specialized modules will be added to expand the platform’s capabilities.