Rendezvous Robotics plans a 2028 in-space demonstration of seven self-assembling tiles. The tiles are intended to autonomously join into one spacecraft, separate, and reassemble into a different configuration, testing modular structural assembly in orbit.[1]
If successful, the approach could shift lunar infrastructure from single-launch, fixed-form spacecraft toward reconfigurable systems assembled from standardized units. For the Lunar Ark, this could support expandable radiation shielding, equipment trusses, power systems, communications networks, and distributed archives; it also offers resilience because damaged or obsolete modules could potentially be isolated and replaced rather than compromising an entire facility.[1]
The Ark team should monitor the 2028 demonstration for autonomous docking reliability, structural load transfer, power and data interconnect standards, fault recovery, assembly precision, and performance after repeated reconfiguration. Research should define lunar-compatible tile interfaces and assess whether identical units can be manufactured, repaired, and stockpiled using terrestrial and lunar materials.