# NASA Advances Dexterous Robotics at Johnson Space Center

NASA's Dexterous Robotics Team at Johnson Space Center is actively developing advanced robotic hardware and software to enhance human-robot collaboration for space exploration missions, including lunar and Mars operations. The team operates the Integrated Mobile Evaluation Testbed for Robotics Operations (iMETRO), a specialized facility enabling rigorous testing and development of robotic technologies designed to perform complex manual tasks that improve crew safety and mission productivity. This initiative creates procurement opportunities for contractors specializing in robotics systems, software development, and simulation technologies to support NASA's human spaceflight programs.

- NASA Johnson Space Center is the primary federal agency advancing robotics for extreme space environments, focusing on reliable, trustworthy robots that augment human explorers.
- Contractors with expertise in dexterous robotic manipulation, human-robot interaction software, and simulation platforms can engage with NASA's ongoing development efforts.
- The iMETRO facility in Houston, Texas, serves as a critical testbed, indicating potential for contracts involving hardware integration, software validation, and operational simulations.
- Procurement professionals should consider the strategic importance of robotics in NASA's exploration roadmap and align proposals to support human-robot collaboration capabilities.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Defense & Military, Information Technology
**Topics:** Artificial Intelligence, Digital Infrastructure
**Published:** September 28, 2026

### Government Entities
- NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC)
- NASA

### Vendors
- PickNik Inc. (technology provider)

### Key Quotes
> Our team is not trying to replace human explorers with robots but instead make human exploration safer and more sustainable by developing highly capable, reliable, and trustworthy robots to work in extreme environments.
> — Shaun Azimi, Dexterous Robotics Team lead

### Sources
- [Reliable Robots: Meet Johnson’s Dexterous Robotics Team - NASA](https://www.nasa.gov/centers-and-facilities/johnson/reliable-robots-meet-johnsons-dexterous-robotics-team/) - NASA