# Int-Ball: robot model

Canonical ID: `1c3eedb7-e6f3-42dd-a389-5427e5aa1be3`

- **Slug:** int-ball
- **Form factor:** space
- **Maturity stage:** research
- **Lifecycle:** active
- **Deployments registered:** 1

## Specs

- **role:** ISS internal free-flying camera
- **autonomy:** autonomous free-flight/station-keeping; ground-directed tasking
- **launched:** 2017-06-03

## Deployments

- [int-ball-iss-jem](/deployments/int-ball-iss-jem.md) at International Space Station (id: `2e9da3c2-566e-4db1-b2cf-fce4586b44c1`)

## Supply chain

_No verified supply relationships on file. Supply-chain coverage is being added across the registry; check back as the seed populates this model's suppliers._

_Suppliers appear when verified with at least two strong sources. Sources are append-only; corrections add new sources rather than rewrite history._

## Common questions

### What is Int-Ball?

JAXA JEM Internal Ball Camera: a free-flying, self-propelled spherical camera drone inside the ISS Japanese Experiment Module, controlled by JAXA ground operators to record crew operations (offloading photo/video chores from astronauts). Autonomous free-flight and station-keeping; tasking is ground-directed. Int-Ball 1 launched 2017-06-03; Int-Ball2 (2023-06-06) adds a stereo camera, IMU and autonomous docking.

### Who makes Int-Ball?

Int-Ball is made by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, based in Tokyo, Japan, founded in 2003.

### Where is Int-Ball deployed?

1 verified deployment of Int-Ball is on the DEPLOY registry, including at International Space Station.

### What is Int-Ball's maturity stage?

Int-Ball is at the research stage on the DEPLOY maturity ladder (research, prototype, pilot, commercial, production). Research stage means active development without commercial deployments on file.


## Sources (1)

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Int-Ball

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