Motiv Space Systems and PickNik Robotics Collaborate on Software for NASA’s Fly Foundational Robotics (FFR) Mission

Boulder, CO and Pasadena, CA — February 11, 2026 — Motiv Space Systems announced a contractual agreement with PickNik Robotics to support software development for NASA’s Fly Foundational Robotics (FFR) mission. FFR is focused on advancing on-orbit robotic manipulation capabilities and supporting NASA’s broader In-space Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing (ISAM) objectives.

Motiv is developing the robotic system for the FFR mission to demonstrate autonomous and ground-supervised manipulation tasks in low Earth orbit. As part of this effort, PickNik will provide robot motion planning and arm control software based on its MoveIt Pro commercial robotics platform, to support mission planning, simulation, and execution of robotic motion within spaceflight operational constraints. A special version of the Robot Operating System (ROS) will be used for this flight mission, called Space ROS. Space ROS is a project of the Open Source Robotics Foundation, with PickNik and NASA among its largest contributors. PickNik will also support integration activities between Motiv and the hosted orbital platform provider, Astro Digital.

PickNik’s scope includes delivery of a flight runtime configuration suitable for the mission compute environment, along with a ground-based operator terminal powered by MoveIt Pro to support mission planning, testing, and validation prior to launch. These tools are intended to help the mission team evaluate robotic behaviors through simulation, digital twin analysis, and operational review before and during on-orbit execution.

Additional collaboration includes software integration and co-development support in areas such as behavior execution, system monitoring interfaces, and operational tooling aligned with the mission’s requirements for long-duration operations and intermittent communications. These capabilities build on MoveIt Pro’s behavior sequencing and modular runtime architecture, while using Space ROS to align with spaceflight-oriented software standards. PickNik will also support representative development hardware used to mirror the flight compute environment during ground testing.

“The Fly Foundational Robotics mission is a critical step toward demonstrating state-of-the-art flight robotic manipulation capabilities that can enable a sustainable and scalable ISAM economy,” said Chris Thayer, CEO of Motiv Space Systems. “We’re proud to support NASA as it advances the next generation of autonomous space operations.”

“FFR is an exciting opportunity to apply MoveIt Pro’s commercially available motion planning software to the unique challenges of on-orbit operations,” said Dave Coleman, Founder and Chief Product Officer of PickNik Robotics. “We’re glad to support Motiv’s team as they prepare for on-orbit mission operations.”

FFR is expected to contribute operational experience and lessons learned that can help inform future robotic missions and capabilities.

About Motiv Space Systems
Motiv Space Systems is a Pasadena, California-based company specializing in robotic systems and motion control solutions for space. From planetary exploration to satellite servicing and on-orbit infrastructure, Motiv’s hardware and software enable the next era of autonomous space operations.

About PickNik Robotics
PickNik Robotics helps companies bring their robotics vision to life—from ideation through to production. As experts in unstructured robotics, PickNik enables organizations to develop, validate, and deploy advanced robotic solutions more quickly and with less risk. The team’s mission is to make robotic automation accessible and impactful for every industry.

About MoveIt Pro
MoveIt Pro is PickNik Robotics’ commercial robotics software platform which is designed for unstructured environments. MoveIt Pro provides powerful tools for motion planning, grasping, perception, and Behavior sequencing. With pre-built robot Behaviors and a modular runtime architecture, MoveIt Pro significantly reduces engineering effort and time-to-deployment. Its hardware-agnostic design supports a wide range of commercial and custom robotic arms, making it ideal for scalable automation across space, manufacturing, and logistics sectors.

About Space ROS
Space ROS, a project of the Open Source Robotics Foundation, is an open-source, space-oriented distribution of ROS designed to support the needs of spaceflight systems. Space ROS extends ROS with tools, processes, and architectural guidance to help developers build robotic systems aligned with aerospace software standards, safety considerations, and long-duration mission requirements. It is intended to accelerate the adoption of modern robotics software practices within space missions.