China is preparing to send a humanoid robot into orbit, positioning a private startup at the center of a new race to put artificial intelligence to work in space. Chinese firm Engine AI says its upcoming mission will create the world’s first robot astronaut, a machine designed to operate in the same cramped, hazardous environments that human crews face. If it succeeds, the launch will mark a turning point in how nations think about risk, cost, and capability beyond Earth.
Rather than a science-fiction mascot, Engine AI’s humanoid is being pitched as a working crewmate that can handle complex tasks in orbit and, eventually, on the Moon or Mars. The project reflects how quickly China’s commercial robotics sector has matured, and how aggressively it is now moving to blend advanced hardware with space-grade artificial intelligence.
China’s Engine AI steps into the astronaut role
Engine AI, a Chinese humanoid robot maker based in Shenzhen, has publicly set its sights on sending a full-size robot into space as a stand-in for human astronauts. The company describes the effort as a dedicated Robot Astronaut Program, with the explicit goal of making its PM01 humanoid the first machine to formally carry the astronaut label. Chinese reporting on the plan stresses that Engine AI is not just building a robot for demonstrations on Earth, but a system that can survive launch, microgravity, and the harsh radiation environment in orbit.
Public statements from the company and its partners frame the mission as a milestone for China’s broader space ambitions. Coverage of the initiative notes that a Chinese humanoid robot is now competing to define what an astronaut can be in an era of pervasive AI. By putting a humanoid into orbit ahead of rivals in the United States, Europe, or Japan, China would be able to claim a symbolic first in the emerging field of robotic crew members.
Inside the PM01 humanoid and its space mission
At the heart of the project is PM01, a humanoid robot that Engine AI has been refining as part of its push into advanced robotics. The company has said the spaceflight will use Engine AI’s PM01 as the primary payload, positioning it as a working astronaut rather than a passive experiment. The robot is expected to carry out tasks that mirror what human crew members do on a space station, from operating tools to manipulating equipment in tight quarters.
Engine AI has already demonstrated that its humanoid designs can handle dynamic movement and balance. Earlier coverage of the company’s work highlights that a Chinese robotics startup called Engine AI unveiled a humanoid that can perform a frontflip, underscoring the sophistication of its actuators and control systems. Translating that agility into a microgravity environment will be a different challenge, but it gives the company a technical base to build on.
From Shenzhen lab to orbit: a fast-moving startup
The space push is the latest step in a rapid build-out of Engine AI’s robotics portfolio. The company, formally listed as ENGINEAI Robotics Technology Co,, traces its roots to an October 2023 company establishment in Shenzhe, a detail that underscores how quickly it has moved from founding to orbital ambitions. Within roughly a year of that launch, Shenzhen EngineAI Robotics introduced its first full-size humanoid robot, SE01, signaling that the startup could design and build complex bipedal machines at speed.
Company materials describe a development path that runs from early prototypes like Engineai SA01 through to SE01, which was showcased at major electronics events as a proof of concept for human-like movement. The firm’s own timeline notes that Engineai used these early models to refine actuators, sensors, and control algorithms before pivoting toward space applications. By the time Chinese social media posts were highlighting that Chinese firm Engine planned to send a humanoid robot into space, the company already had a track record of iterating quickly on complex hardware.
Interstellor partnership and China’s commercial space push
Engine AI is not going to orbit alone. The company has aligned with Interstellor, a Chinese commercial space player that will provide launch and mission support. Reports on the collaboration explain that EngineAI and Interstellor are jointly building a humanoid robot space exploration program that treats the robot as a pathfinder for future crewed missions. Both partners have said they intend to integrate artificial intelligence deeply into space exploration, using the robot as a testbed for autonomous decision making in orbit.
Chinese coverage of the deal emphasizes that Engine AI has partnered with a Chinese commercial space to handle the realities of launch, orbital insertion, and communications. Additional reporting from Kazakhstan-based outlets notes that both Engine AI and Interstellor have publicly committed to jointly advancing artificial intelligence in space exploration, signaling that this is not a one-off stunt but the start of a longer program.
Why a humanoid astronaut matters for future missions
Engine AI and its partners are explicit about why they want a robot in a spacesuit. They argue that humanoid robots can take on dangerous work, from external inspections to emergency repairs, reducing the risk to human crews and potentially lowering mission costs. One detailed account of the program notes that Engine AI aims to make its PM01 robot the first humanoid astronaut capable of handling extreme temperature fluctuations and intense radiation, conditions that are spelled out in technical descriptions of the mission. By proving that a humanoid can function in that environment, the company hopes to open the door to robotic crews on deep-space journeys.
Advocates inside China also frame the project as a way to keep astronauts safer and extend the reach of the country’s space program. One analysis from Kazakhstan highlights that deploying humanoid robots for high-risk tasks, mission planners can reduce exposure for human crews and potentially extend mission durations. A separate report on the EngineAI and Interstellor program notes that the partners explicitly see humanoids as a way to help human astronauts reduce mission risks, a rationale that aligns with broader international trends toward robotic precursors on lunar and Martian missions.
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