ISRO Picks Pune's Muks Robotics to Develop SPACEO Prime, a Humanoid Built to Work in Space

Pune-based Muks Robotics says it has won a project from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to develop SPACEO Prime, a humanoid robot meant to work in space. The company calls it India's first humanoid "space worker". The selection was reported by Indian Defence News on 12 October 2026, and an ANI report followed on 16 October.

It is a small announcement with few details so far. But it shows ISRO is looking beyond its own labs, and towards private robotics firms, for machines that could one day do work in orbit or on other planets.

What has been announced

According to the reports, SPACEO Prime is planned as a bipedal humanoid that can operate autonomously in extreme environments. Its job would be to help with tasks that are hazardous, repetitive or difficult for astronauts. Company material describes it as being engineered with Mars missions in mind.

Several important details have not been released:

• Technical specifications, such as size, mass, payload and power.
• Development schedule and milestones.
• Mission parameters: whether the robot is intended for an upcoming mission, a technology demonstration or a longer-term exploration programme.
• Contract value and the scope of ISRO's involvement.

The "first humanoid space worker" description comes from the company itself. ANI's report notes that moving from development to actual operations in space will require sustained engineering, testing and validation.

Who is Muks Robotics

Muks Robotics was founded by Dr Mukesh Bangar, who is credited with conceiving the SPACEO Prime idea in 2021. The company is building a family of humanoids. Alongside SPACEO Prime, it lists SPACEO Pro, an industrial humanoid that the company says can handle a 200 kg payload, and SPACEO M1, a service robot for social settings. Reports differ on when SPACEO Prime might be ready, with targets ranging from 2027–28 to the early 2030s, so timelines should be treated with caution.

Where this fits in ISRO's plans

ISRO already has a humanoid of its own: Vyommitra, a half-humanoid developed in-house to fly on the uncrewed Gaganyaan test missions and monitor the crew module. Vyommitra is designed to sit in a seat and report on conditions, not to walk or do physical work.

A walking, working humanoid is a different challenge. It needs balance and movement control in low or zero gravity, hands that can grip tools, protection against radiation and extreme temperatures, and enough autonomy to work when communication with Earth is delayed.

ISRO's long-term plans make such robots more relevant. The agency is working towards the Bharatiya Antariksh Station, India's planned space station, with a target of 2035, along with further Moon missions. Robots that can carry out inspection, maintenance or setup work could reduce the time astronauts spend on routine or risky jobs.

Other space agencies have explored the idea before. NASA's Robonaut 2, a humanoid torso developed with General Motors, was flown to the International Space Station in 2011 to test whether a robot could use the same tools and handholds as astronauts. That work showed both the promise and the difficulty: designing a robot that is useful in microgravity, reliable enough for a crewed station and simple enough to maintain is hard.

Why it matters

The project fits a wider shift in India's space programme. ISRO is handing more manufacturing and development to private industry, while focusing itself on research and advanced missions. Giving a humanoid-robotics project to a private company is a step in that direction.

It also gives India's young humanoid-robotics sector a demanding customer. Systems built to space standards must be lighter, tougher and more reliable than those used in factories. If Muks can meet those standards, the same engineering could feed back into its industrial and service robots on the ground.

For now, the announcement is a starting point. The real measure will be the technical details and a credible test schedule.

Sources

• https://www.indiandefensenews.in/2026/10/isro-selects-muks-robotics-spaceo-prime.html
• https://idrw.org/isro-taps-muks-robotics-to-develop-spaceo-prime/
• http://www.calcuttanews.net/news/279378572/pune-based-muks-robotics-secures-isro-project-to-develop-spaceo-prime-an-indian-humanoid-space-worker
• https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/science/pune-based-muks-robotics-working-on-ai-powered-humanoids-for-moon-mars/story
• https://muksrobotics.com/spaceo-prime