China’s latest space tech might just spark a cosmic gold rush!
Move over, sci-fi movies—China’s new multifunctional space mining robot is here to prove that interstellar resource extraction isn’t just a fantasy. Developed by researchers at the China University of Mining and Technology (CUMT), this six-legged ‘space Swiss Army knife’ combines wheel and claw appendages to navigate microgravity environments like a cosmic acrobat.
Engineers say the hybrid design allows the robot to perform tasks like drilling, gripping, and transporting materials in low-gravity conditions. Think Wall-E meets Transformers, but optimized for asteroid mining. This leap in tech could one day support missions to harvest rare metals or even water ice on the moon—a game-changer for sustainable deep-space exploration.
While the bot is still in testing, experts suggest it lays the groundwork for future ‘space industrial parks.’ As nations race to tap extraterrestrial resources, China’s innovation adds fuel to the global competition for cosmic assets.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com