Asteroid restructuring uses robotics, self replication, and mechanical automatons to autonomously restructure an asteroid into a large rotating space station. The restructuring process makes structures from asteroid oxide materials; uses productive self-replication to make replicators, helpers, and products; and creates a multiple floor station to support a large population. In an example simulation, it takes 12 years to autonomously restructure a large asteroid into the space station. This is accomplished with a single rocket launch. The single payload contains a base station, 4 robots (spiders), and a modest set of supplies. Our simulation creates 3000 spiders and over 23,500 other pieces of equipment. Only the base station and spiders (replicators) have advanced microprocessors and algorithms. These represent 21st century technologies created and trans-ported from Earth. The equipment and tools are built using in-situ materials and represent 18th or 19th century technologies. The equipment and tools (helpers) have simple mechanical programs to perform repetitive tasks. The resulting example station would be a rotating framework almost 5 kilometers in diameter. Once completed, it could support a population of over 700,000 people. Many researchers identify the high launch costs, the harsh space environment, and the lack of gravity as the key obstacles hindering the development of space stations. The single probe addresses the high launch cost. The autonomous construction eliminates the harsh space environment for construction crews. The completed rotating station provides radiation protection and centripetal gravity for the first work crews and colonists.

翻译：小行星重构利用机器人技术、自我复制及机械自动化系统，将一颗小行星自主重构为一个大型旋转空间站。重构过程包括：从小行星氧化物材料中构建结构；通过生产性自我复制制造复制器、辅助机器及产品；并创建可容纳大量人口的多层站体。在示例仿真中，将一颗大型小行星自主重构为空间站需要12年时间。该过程仅通过单次火箭发射完成，单个有效载荷包含一个基站、4台机器人（蜘蛛）及适量补给物资。我们的仿真生成了3000台蜘蛛机器人和超过23500件其他设备。仅有基站与蜘蛛机器人（复制器）配备先进微处理器与算法，这些代表21世纪技术成果，均在地球制造并运输而来。其余设备与工具使用原位材料建造，代表18或19世纪技术水平，配备执行重复性任务的简单机械程序。示例最终建成的空间站为直径近5公里的旋转框架结构。建成后，该空间站可容纳超过70万人口。众多研究者指出，高额发射成本、严酷太空环境及缺乏重力是制约空间站发展的关键障碍：单次探测器发射解决了高额发射成本问题；自主建造消除了施工人员需面对的严酷太空环境；完成的旋转站体为首批工作人员与殖民者提供辐射防护及向心重力。