The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) Innovation Hub commissioned Tohoku University’s Space Robotics Laboratory (SRL) to develop The Gripper, a bio-inspired climbing robot designed to navigate extreme lunar terrains like lava tubes and craters. This project focused on optimizing the gripping mechanism through iterative prototyping and testing, resulting in a simple yet effective design capable of scaling vertical walls and overhanging surfaces. For the author—an architecture student transitioning into space robotics—the internship involved mastering robotics fundamentals with team support, culminating in a three-month effort to deliver a reliable, high-performance solution. The final design advances lunar exploration capabilities for human space exploration.