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、自我复制与机械自动化装置，将小行星自主重构为大型旋转空间站。该重构过程利用小行星氧化物材料建造结构体；通过生产性自我复制制造复制器、辅助机器人与产品；并构建可容纳大量人口的多层空间站。示例仿真显示，将一颗大型小行星自主重构为空间站需耗时12年，这仅需单次火箭发射即可实现。单个有效载荷包含一座基站、4台机器人（蜘蛛）及适量补给物资。我们的仿真生成了3000台蜘蛛机器人与超过23500件其他设备，其中仅基站与蜘蛛机器人（复制器）配备先进微处理器与算法——这些代表21世纪从地球制造并运输的技术。其余设备与工具采用原位材料制造，体现18至19世纪技术水准，这些设备与工具（辅助机器人）通过简单机械程序执行重复性任务。最终建成的示例空间站为直径近5公里的旋转框架结构，完工后可持续容纳超过70万人口。众多研究者指出，高发射成本、严苛太空环境及重力缺失是制约空间站发展的关键障碍。单探测器方案解决了高发射成本问题；自主施工免除了施工人员面临的恶劣太空环境；而完工后的旋转空间站为首批工作人员与殖民者提供辐射防护及向心重力。