The present invention relates to an assembly apparatus for assembling components of spacecraft in space. The assembly apparatus comprises: a core platform (7); and a mobile platform (4) comprising an end effector configured to perform an assembly or manufacturing task. The mobile platform (4) is connected to the core platform (7) by a tether (6a). The core platform comprises a body and a coupling element (15a) connected to and extendable from the body (7) such that the coupling element (15a) may be spaced from the body of the core platform (7). The tether (6a) connects the mobile platform (4) to the body (7) via the coupling element (15a). The assembly apparatus further comprises an actuator configured to vary the length of the tether extending between the coupling element and the mobile platform to control the position of the mobile platform relative to the body of the core platform.
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