Icarus Robotics completes microgravity tests for ISS-bound JOY robot

Icarus Robotics has completed a critical series of microgravity tests for its JOY robot, marking the final major validation phase before the machine is scheduled to travel to the International Space Station. According to The Robot Report, the company executed 66 parabolic arcs across four separate flights, resulting in two cumulative minutes of weightlessness for the robot. These tests serve as the last significant hurdle for the system prior to its orbital deployment.

The JOY robot is slated to launch to the ISS in 2027 as part of the Joyride-1 mission. The Robot Report notes that this deployment operates under a mission management agreement with Voyager Technologies, which was announced in March. The Brooklyn, N.Y.-based startup has been building toward this milestone since raising $6.1 million in seed funding last year, as reported by The Robot Report.