Icarus Robotics, a New York-based startup developing advanced, dexterous robotic systems for space operations, has selected KULR Technology Group to supply the battery systems for its upcoming International Space Station (ISS) mission.
Under the agreement, KULR’s proprietary KULR One Space (K1S) lithium-ion battery architectures will power Icarus’s flagship Joy platform.
Joy is a highly maneuverable, free-flying robotic assistant designed to autonomously navigate the microgravity environment of the ISS. The spacecraft is slated to make its orbital debut assisting astronauts on the Joyride-1 technology demonstration mission, currently scheduled for early 2027.
The Stringent Safety Rules of Crewed Spaceflight
Designing batteries to operate alongside human crew members in closed, pressurized habitats like the ISS presents an entirely different class of engineering challenges compared to standard satellite applications.
“Batteries for systems that operate alongside people in space stations are much more expensive, and much more critical safety-wise and design-wise,”
– Ethan Barajas, Chief Executive and Co-Founder of Icarus Robotics
Because battery malfunctions in a pressurized station can lead to catastrophic thermal runaway (where a cell overheats and triggers a chain reaction), safety margins are incredibly thin.
KULR’s K1S systems utilize specialized thermal management materials engineered to completely prevent cell-to-cell thermal propagation. These systems are specifically designed to comply with NASA’s stringent crewed-vehicle safety standards.
KULR already has considerable flight heritage; its technology was integrated into a CubeSat that launched aboard NASA’s Artemis 2 lunar mission. For the Joyride-1 mission, KULR will customize the K1S battery pack to align with Joy’s distinct electrical performance profiles, geometric constraints, and physical weight distribution.
Powering the Next Phase of Orbital Logistics
As commercial space stations, lunar bases, and orbital manufacturing hubs mature, the demand for sophisticated, mobile robotic labor is rising. However, traditional space systems are not designed to support high-power, dynamic electromechanical tasks.
“The next phase of space infrastructure won’t be defined by compute alone…Orbital systems can’t be serviced by technicians, so the robots that inspect, repair, and assemble them and the batteries that power them are essential to keeping that infrastructure running safely.”
– Michael Mo, CEO of KULR
The expansion of space-based infrastructure will require robust, specialized energy networks that traditional satellite supply chains are currently struggling to provide.
“Robotic labor, large deployables, and on-orbit compute are getting more and more important, but the supply chain hasn’t necessarily risen to meet that yet.”
— Jamie Palmer, Co-founder and CTO of Icarus Robotics
KULR is positioning its K1S battery line as a direct solution to this bottleneck. By providing high-power, energy-dense storage solutions tailored for autonomous space platforms, the company aims to become a foundational power supplier for the robotic systems that will soon build and maintain humanity’s off-world infrastructure.