China is developing robotic arms for use in space stations, the first of which could be used in the facility that plans to put into orbit in the coming years, official sources announced Thursday.
Technical and Chinese scientists have already built a first prototype of ten meters in length whose final end would not be attached to the station, according to the official Xinhua news agency quoted sources of the Corporation of Science and Aerospace Technology of China (CASC).
Not being fixed, and thanks to its seven motorized joints, the arm could crawl similar to a snake across the surface of the station to reach any place of installation.
Other sources indicated that the company is developing two different types of robotic arms, one that would operate from the central module and another from the experimental station module.
China's space agency plans to launch a manned in the second half of this year mission, which will mean the return of Chinese astronauts into orbit after five other such missions between 2003 and 2013.
China plans to launch in 2018 the central module of its future space station, a facility that would be in service in 2022, according to current official forecasts.