The University of Adelaide, in collaboration with Space Machines Company and backed by the Defence Trailblazer initiative, has unveiled Australia’s first orbital robotics testbed on its campus. According to the announcement, this ground-based facility is designed to simulate space operations and accelerate development of perception and manipulation technologies for future missions.

The testbed, located within the university’s advanced space simulation labs, will support the MAITRI mission, which is scheduled for launch in late 2026. The partners said the system emulates key orbital dynamics through robotic arms, lighting systems, and visual displays to closely resemble conditions encountered in low Earth orbit.

Officials noted that this infrastructure will allow engineers to verify and refine critical software and hardware components—especially those tied to autonomous proximity operations—before committing them to flight. The project is expected to bolster Australia’s sovereign space capabilities and aid Space Machines Company in maturing its on-orbit servicing technologies.