[Update] Whoops! There was a problem with the Falcon 9 rocket, so Robonaut is going to have to wait a little longer to meet his other half. The next attempt is scheduled for Friday.
Looks like I'm waiting a few more days for those legs Next SpaceX opportunity 3:29pm ET Friday #SpaceX3 #AllIWantForEasterIsMyTwoFrontLegs
— Robonaut (@AstroRobonaut) April 14, 2014
SpaceX launch scrubbed due to helium leak on Falcon 9 first stage. Next launch opportunity Friday, 3:25pm EDT if issue can be resolved.
— NASA Kennedy / KSC (@NASAKennedy) April 14, 2014
Must be hard for @SpaceX to seriously discuss how to fix a helium leak when they've all got high squeaky voices.
— SarcasticRover (@SarcasticRover) April 14, 2014
NASA’s Doctor Octonaut Robonaut 2 has been patiently awaiting the arrival of his robotic Doc Ock legs as he sits completely immobile on a support post. Today, his lower half is launching to the ISS aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft at 4:58PM ET, and then he’ll be able to move freely about the space station and free up human astronauts for more complex tasks.
You can watch live coverage from NASA starting shortly before the launch.
Robonaut has been on board the ISS since February 2011, but it hasn’t been as much help to astronauts as it could be, because it can’t get around the zero gravity environment on its own. Once it gets its new legs, it’ll be able to maneuver around the inside and outside of the space station, handle simple tasks instead of using valuable astronaut time on them, and become our supreme overlord.
He’s pretty excited about it, which we learned from his Twitter. Yes, NASA’s robot astronaut tweets. (Or has a human do it for him.)
Hey everyone! Sorry I’ve been dormant but my LEGS LAUNCH TODAY! Watch #NASATV for the launch at 4:58 pm ET tonight http://t.co/WN0tXlwT2q
— Robonaut (@AstroRobonaut) April 14, 2014
Here’s Robonaut dancing around and displaying his superiority to his feeble human servants:
(NASA via Twitter)
- The ISS recently got new crew members after they spent unplanned days in orbit
- The UK’s robot soldier, Porton Man, is less able-bodied but looks more unsettling
- There’s also a spider-bot, which would probably work great in space
