The successful launches of SpaceX’s Starship have significantly reduced the cost of sending payloads to Low Earth Orbit — by more than 90% compared to a decade ago. This paradigm shift has unlocked new possibilities: developers can now design space robots with «industrial-grade» standards (focusing on mechanical redundancy, modularity, and maintainability) rather than obsessing over every gram of weight. As a result, in-orbit assembly is becoming practical: robots can be launched as modular components and assembled in space, eliminating the need to build them completely on Earth. This trend is driving advances in space robotics, including satellite servicing, debris removal, lunar exploration, and in-space manufacturing.
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