NASA Valkyrie R5
NASA Johnson Space CenterSpace-capable humanoid designed for extraterrestrial environments
About NASA Valkyrie R5
NASA Valkyrie (R5) stands 188 cm tall, weighs 125 kg, with 44 DoF designed for space operations. Developed for DARPA Robotics Challenge and future space missions, Valkyrie features radiation-hardened electronics, extreme temperature tolerance, and sealed joints. The robot can operate in pressurized spacecraft or potentially in spacesuits on planetary surfaces. NASA distributed Valkyrie units to select research institutions (MIT, Northeastern, University of Edinburgh) to accelerate development of control algorithms and AI. Applications include Mars base construction, ISS maintenance, and hazardous space operations. Valkyrie represents long-term NASA vision for robotic astronauts working alongside or replacing humans in dangerous scenarios.
PROS
- + Designed for extreme and degraded environments
- + Humanoid form factor utilizes human-engineered tools
- + Highly dexterous manipulation (3 fingers and a thumb)
- + Modular components for easier shipping and servicing
CONS
- - Limited autonomous battery life (approx. one hour)
- - High complexity and cost for maintenance
- - Bipedal stability challenges on rugged
- - uneven terrain
Use Cases
Quick Specs
- Type
- Humanoid
- Market
- Research
- Availability
- In Development