GITAI is a space robotics startup founded in Tokyo in 2016 and now headquartered in Torrance, California. It builds robot arms and rovers meant to take over the dangerous, repetitive work that astronauts and expensive spacewalks handle today: assembling structures, swapping parts and servicing hardware in orbit and on the Moon. Its arms have already worked both inside and outside the International Space Station, and in 2026 the company was reported as one of the firms selected for the US Space Force’s Space-Based Interceptor programme.
Why space needs robot workers
Every hour of astronaut time on the ISS is extremely expensive, and spacewalks carry real risk. Yet much of the work in orbit is routine: moving payloads, bolting panels together, replacing equipment. As commercial space stations, large satellite constellations and lunar bases move from plans to hardware, the amount of that work will grow far faster than the number of astronauts.
Founder and CEO Sho Nakanose started GITAI with a clear goal: cut the cost of labour in space by replacing a large share of crew and spacewalk work with general-purpose robots. The company designs its robots to be built and sold as products, not as one-off government projects.
The product line
| System | What it is | Status |
|---|---|---|
| S1 | Autonomous robot arm for work inside a spacecraft | Tested inside the ISS in 2021, including assembly and switch operations |
| S2 | 1.5-metre dual robotic arm system for external work | Completed a technology demonstration outside the ISS in 2024 |
| Inchworm | Roughly 2-metre arm with grippers at both ends that “walks” across structures and swaps its own tools | Main product; passed thermal vacuum testing on Earth |
| R1 | Four-legged, wheeled lunar rover with two arms for general-purpose tasks | In development for lunar surface missions |
Inchworm, the core idea
The Inchworm design explains GITAI’s approach. Instead of a single large arm fixed to a station, like the Canadarm on the ISS, Inchworm can attach either end to a docking point, release the other end and move along a truss or satellite like its namesake. Because it changes its own end tools, the same robot can grip, bolt, connect cables or inspect. That makes it suited to assembling large structures, such as antennas or solar arrays, that are too big to launch in one piece.
From ISS tests to defence contracts
- 2021 — the S1 arm completed tasks inside the ISS through the commercial Bishop airlock, the first demonstration of a GITAI robot in orbit
- 2023 — GITAI moved its headquarters to Torrance, California, and was selected for DARPA’s LunA-10 study on lunar infrastructure
- 2024 — the S2 dual-arm system completed its demonstration outside the ISS, showing autonomous work in open space
- 2025 — GITAI Japan won a JAXA contract for a concept study of a robotic arm for a crewed pressurised lunar rover; the company also set up GITAI Defense and Space LLC to bid for US government work
- 2026 — GITAI USA was reported as selected for the US Space Force’s Space-Based Interceptor programme, with Inchworm part of its offer
The company is privately held and funded by Japanese and US venture investors. Its Series B, extended several times, has been reported at around US$60 million.
Why it matters for overseas partners
GITAI sits in a useful position between Japan and the United States. It keeps engineering roots and a subsidiary in Japan, with access to JAXA programmes and Japanese funding, while its US entity can pursue NASA and defence contracts.
- For satellite and station operators — robotic servicing and in-orbit assembly can extend hardware life and allow larger structures than a single launch permits
- For lunar programme partners — GITAI’s arms and rover are designed for the base-building work that Artemis-era missions will need
- For defence and dual-use buyers — the Space Force selection shows its robots are being considered for national security missions
- For investors — GITAI is one of a small group of Japanese-founded space companies, alongside Astroscale and ispace, with flight-proven hardware
For a wider look at the sector, see our overview of Japan’s space tech startups.
Outlook
GITAI’s challenge now is to move from demonstrations to repeat commercial orders. Its hardware has proven itself on the ISS, but the market for robotic labour in space depends on commercial stations, lunar missions and defence programmes that are still being funded and scheduled. If those programmes arrive on time, a robot that can walk across a structure and change its own tools could become standard equipment in orbit. Over the next few years, the main things to watch are GITAI’s first Inchworm flight and the size of its US government contracts.
Interested in Japanese business opportunities?
Whether you're looking for technology partners, engineering talent, or market insights — we can help connect you with the right Japanese organizations.
Get in Touch →
