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The 300-pound, human-like machine, R2 for short, is to be a permanent
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resident on the orbiting outpost 180 miles above Earth.
Top Gear
Looking like a human astronaut, the robot has a head, torso, two arms and Space Pictures NASA
hands and is also dressed in white with a gold helmet. NASA Earth Images

It also is strikingly similar to the character on Top

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biggest mining cash launched aboard the space shuttle Discovery in
call September.
Endeavour shuttle
successfully docks at R2's real-life limbs operate just like a human's,
International Space allowing it to use the same tools as the human
Station crew. It will act as an assistant to the humans on
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Green tea and R2 is currently undergoing vibration, vacuum and Take That Tory.
seaweed soup blasted radiation testing before it is sent to the ISS.
into space for
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It is a better version of the original Robonaut, which
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was a humanoid robot designed for space travel,
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decade ago.
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Nasa experts said its research could pave the way for more advanced robots,
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which can move freely around the space station, work with astronauts on
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The team of GM engineers worked for more than three years with Nasa
scientists and engineers from the Oceaneering Space Systems of Houston, at 1. Robonaut 2: Nasa develops robot 'that looks
the Johnson Space centre in Texas. like Top Gear's The Stig'

John Olson, director of the Nasa’s Exploration Systems Integration Office, 2. Robonaut 2: Nasa develops robot 'that looks
which is based at the Space Agency’s Headquarters in Washington DC, said like Top Gear's The Stig'
robots promised to act as "companions that can carry out key supporting
3.Ash cloud reminds us that we should all be
roles”.
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“This project exemplifies the promise that a future generation of robots can 4. Meteor lights up American skies
have both in space and on Earth, not as replacements for humans but as
companions that can carry out key supporting roles,” he said. 5. Volcanic ash cloud tested by scientists

"The combined potential of humans and robots is a perfect example of the SPONSORED FEATURES
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He added: “Testing the robot inside the station will provide an important Win one of 12 holidays worth £1,000
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Directorate, added: “This cutting-edge robotics technology holds great
promise, not only for NASA, but also for the nation.

"I'm very excited about the new opportunities for human and robotic
exploration these versatile robots provide across a wide range of
applications."

For the GM, which recently filed for bankruptcy, the results could help the
development of manufacturing operations.

Alan Taub, vice president of GM's global research and development, added:
"The extreme levels of testing R2 has undergone as it prepares… are on par
with the validation our vehicles and components go through on the path to
production.

“Partnerships between organisations such as GM and NASA help ensure

space exploration, road travel and manufacturing can become even safer in
the future."

The Canadian Space Agency already has a humanoid robot residing at the
ISS for spacewalk.

This week, Barack Obama, the US President, outlined plans to send

astronauts to orbit Mars by the mid-2030s, followed by an eventual landing on
the planet.

Making his case to a sceptical space community at the Kennedy Space

Centre in Florida this week, Mr Obama said his new space exploration plan
would lead Americans beyond the moon and to Mars within his lifetime.

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