No More Astronauts Needed... Meet ROBONAUT

Well we all knew it was on the horizon, yes?

With the US Military moving towards Predator missiles and UAV's with awesome fire power... they are moving away from needing pilots...

Even the new 'secret' space plane that the USAF has up there right now doing who knows what, has no pilot.

The Russian Progress series spacecraft that have been supplying the ISS are also robotic spacecraft (even BURAN the Russian Shuttle did not need a pilot) and as JRA pointed out in another thread:

Originally posted by jra
So is the ESA's ATV. JAXA's HTV, SpaceX's Dragon (the cargo variant anyway) and Orbital Science's Cygnus Spacecraft, which is still in development.

But these are all cargo vessels, so you wouldn't want people in them taking up space. You're being bit sensationalistic when you say that no more people are needed.

www.abovetopsecret.com...

So is the X-37B merely a cargo vessel? Then why is it's mission and purpose still secret? Hmmm maybe where it's delivering that cargo to is the secret

On ISS itself, we have DEXTRE the ROBOT, who will do the job of unloading the cargo... one less place where humans will be required..

New Space Station Robot Asks to be Called "Dextre the Magnificent"

In a surprising and potentially troubling request, the new space station robot known as Dextre demanded that astronauts refer to it in the future at "Dextre the Magnificent." Brandishing power tools that would make any handyperson blush, the mobile servicing system thanked humans for creating it and promised a glorious future where humans would retain an important role in the new robot order.

April Fool's joke? or vision of things to come...

apod.nasa.gov...

Dextre at Work What's the world's most complex space robot doing up there? In June 2008, Dextre was moved atop the Destiny Laboratory Module of the International Space Station (ISS), completing tasks prior to the the STS-124 mission's deployment of Japan's Kibo pressurized science laboratory.

www.nasa.gov...

Still think your kids can become future Astronauts? Well lets have a look at that...

Meet R2 (no D2)

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/fe956a670421.jpg[/atsimg]

NASA Robonaut Program
robonaut.jsc.nasa.gov...

NASA Outlines Big Plans for Humanoid Robot - NASA Science
science.nasa.gov...

ISS Mission - Robonaut: Home
robonaut.jsc.nasa.gov...

R2 (not D2!): Humanoid robot heading to ISS
www.cfnews13.com...(not-D2):-Humanoid-robot-heading-to-ISS
ATS URL bug bites again... you will have to copy this url from quote. Is there a work around for that yet?

Astronauts of the past Meet ROBONAUT

They don't eat, and they don't talk about Space UFO's and don't need a paycheck or pension







Good Ole NASA... I can always count on them to back my work

reply to post by zorgon

This is worrying...

How long before R2, driven crazy by it's ordeal on the shaking cradle, promotes itself to 'R2 the Almighty' and proceeds to rain fire on us foolish flesh and blood mortals on earth?

Thanks a bundle NASA



It's like something out of 'The Terminator'.

Aw, man! Robots are stealing our space jobs! Shucks! =/


Soon there will be illegal robotic immigrants in space as well.

US Air Force X-37 Robot Mini Shuttle To Launch into Space April 2010

Long-delayed plans by the US to deploy a small robot space shuttle appear now to be approaching fruition, according to the Register UK. The US Air Force has now stated that the X-37 unmanned spaceplane will be launched into orbit on April 19.

The X-37B has the requirement to be on-orbit up to 270 days. Actual length for the first mission will depend on the meeting the mission objectives, which consists of checkout and performance characteristics of the spacecraft systems. Objectives of the OTV [Orbital Test Vehicle] program include space experimentation, risk reduction and concept of operations development for reusable space vehicle technologies. The X-37's cargo bay is believed to be a large-coffin sized 7' by 4'

nextbigfuture.com...

Okay so its a robot mini space shuttle that has a large-coffin sized 7' by 4' cargo bay? Gotta love the way these reporters phrase things

US X-37B robot minishuttle: 'Secret space warplane'?
No, but it could do some naughty orbital stuff

Tomorrow, the US Air Force will finally launch the long-delayed X-37B unmanned mini space shuttle, dubbed by the Iranian government a "secret space warplane". But what is it actually for? Probably nothing hostile, most of the time, is the answer. But it could do some quite naughty and interesting things if required - and what's more, it could probably do them without anyone knowing about it.

www.theregister.co.uk...

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/abf44ed598e1.jpg[/atsimg]

www.foxnews.com...

Air Force's Mystery X-37B Robot Spaceship Launches

The United States Air Force's novel robotic X-37B space plane space plane is tucked inside the bulbous nose cone of an unmanned rocket that blasted off Thursday evening from Florida on a mission shrouded in secrecy.

The spacecraft, called the Orbital Test Vehicle, was launched atop an Atlas 5 rocket from a seaside pad at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. But what it will actually do in space and when it will autonomously fly itself back down to Earth remain a mystery.

The Air Force would like to keep it that way. At least for now. "Well, you can't hide a space launch, so at some point extra security doesn't do you any good," said Gary Payton, Air Force deputy under secretary for space systems, in a Tuesday teleconference with reporters.

www.foxnews.com...

Secret missions of Robot Space Planes...

I hope NASA and the Military remember the words of Isaac Asimov
Three Laws of Robotics

1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
2. A robot must obey any orders given to it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

Not an astronaut. Man has always been about being there, not sending a machine to do it. We go to space to fill the need in our hearts for exploration. To send machines and never go will not satisfy man. Might as well not even try, if we can't stand there.

reply to post by zorgon


S & F

I came to the same idea in one of my own threads.
I pieced it together in a slightly different way.

www.abovetopsecret.com...
www.abovetopsecret.com...

These robots most likely will be able to travel on far off missions that take many years and we would not have to risk human's lives or take 30 years from them in a mission

Also, these robots will be able to take extreme heat and cold situations (to a degree), allowing humans (they are our creation) to extend it's knowledge of outer space

I hope NASA and the Military remember the words of Isaac Asimov Three Laws of Robotics 1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm. 2. A robot must obey any orders given to it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law. 3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

I think it's utter likely those robotic laws are not installed. What good is a military robot with those laws active... Apart from law #1 that makes a robot instant thrash for military purposes. If, on top of that, you and I are allowed to order it around to say - disassemble itself-, what fun would it be to the military?

Law # 3 wont help there.

On a side note, you might find it interesting that the old master Asimov did formulate another robotic law. It's called the zeroth law, standing above the first three.

"A robot may not harm humanity, or through inaction, allow humanity to come to harm."

Or if you will.. the good of the many out-way the good of the few. I bet that one would be usable for the military.

On the Robonaut topic. I think it's logic to use robots in space.

We humans are not very well adapted to the environment above and beyond earth. We need the partnership with robots to get somewhere. Let's do that as efficient as possible.

The real work still has to be done by the smelly humans, though.

robonaut.jsc.nasa.gov...

A Robonaut is a dexterous humanoid robot built and designed at NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. Our challenge is to build machines that can help humans work and explore in space.

science.nasa.gov...

"Our goal is for R2 to perform routine maintenance tasks, freeing up the station crew for more important work," explains Ron Diftler, Robonaut Project Manager at Johnson Space Center.

robonaut.jsc.nasa.gov...

The robots - called Robonaut2 - were designed to use the same tools as humans, which allows them to work safely side-by-side humans on Earth and in space.

To answer your question.

Still think your kids can become future Astronauts?

I don't like kids.

Originally posted by earthdude
Not an astronaut. Man has always been about being there, not sending a machine to do it. We go to space to fill the need in our hearts for exploration. To send machines and never go will not satisfy man. Might as well not even try, if we can't stand there.

I agree... While those cute little Mars Rovers have been taking some pretty pictures, its just not the same... and who knows what they are NOT seeing?

Cartoon from a NASA presentation



Seems the Martians are not to happy about them either



But seriously here is a very cool video of the Martian Robot Rovers

www.maasdigital.com...

Folks are quick around here... many of the thoughts I have are already here.

I do feel strongly the we humans need to be out there... seriously need, as has been mentioned... it's in our very makeup, the need to explore to experience, to discover. That old "To boldly go where no man has gone before" thing. It's very real, and... It simply can't be replaced by machinery with us watching on a screen.

At the same time though, such a machine, given the upcoming legs, could very well be an effective companion on all manner of human sorties. It's a long way from being Data, but assuming we don't wipe ourselves out in the interim, "he" could well evolve into just that.

So I remain hopeful...

And welcome back Zorgon, you're one of a couple reasons I joined.

Lotsa reading to do, peace to all.

Robots will go where no man dares.
Good radiation hardened electronics can go a long way.
Since the Sun provides most of the high speed particles getting away
as fast as possible might help man explore the emptiness of space.

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/bc45c61de0f7.jpg[/atsimg]

No need for a pilot, but it looks like there is plenty of room for them to put a pressurised module in the "experiment bay" and secretly send up a Space Marine

Some guys at NASA have decided that they could put a robot avatar on the moon in 1000 days. They call it Project M.

Now imagine these NASA C-3POs roaming our satellite, controlled by all kind of scientists using telepresence suits down here, all looking for interesting things using high definition visors, and able to move just like they would move on planet Earth. It won't work for Mars, but with a communication delay of only three seconds, it will work beautifully on the Moon. A realistic scenario The 1000-day mark is quite plausible, since the mission would be a lot simpler than a human-based one. It will also be quite cheaper than the real thing. First, you don't have to care about life support systems, which will make spacecraft manufacturing a lot less complex. The whole system would also weight a lot less, reducing the need for the development of a huge rocket, and again reducing the costs.


gizmodo.com...

Originally posted by zorgon
So is the X-37B merely a cargo vessel?

Then why is it's mission and purpose still secret? Hmmm maybe where it's delivering that cargo to is the secret

No where in that post did I say that the X-37b was a cargo ship. It is most definitely not one, since it's cargo bay is extremely small. But I explained that to you in the other thread already.

On ISS itself, we have DEXTRE the ROBOT, who will do the job of unloading the cargo... one less place where humans will be required..

What cargo are you referring to specifically? The supplies from the cargo ships are removed from the inside, by people. And from what I've read, Dextre is meant for doing maintenance. That and it is operated and controlled by a person (an Astronaut to be specific) as is Robonaut.

There is no doubt that Robots are becoming more common, but I don't think Humans will ever get completely replaced and there will always be a need for Astronauts.

Originally posted by jra


What cargo are you referring to specifically?

Yeah Zorgon, spill dem beans.

great repost...

that robot looking muscular as hell, and it looks nice.. really like the design..
can I ask a question though?
Why do they leave everything white?
Is white and blue their signature color[nasa's] is that why they do that.. no problem with it...just curious

Super thread! The OP as well as the additional posts.

I think robonaugh is a great idea. No messy fluids in the cabin, like the humans.

Yeah I hear the locker rooms up there are pretty nasty... mildew all over the walls ...

Hmmm since that mold is growing in space, does that not make it ET? And I wonder what ever became of the worms they bred up there?

Oh well... LEGO also makes a cool Space Robot... I guess its meant for the kids on Mars though...


Cosmonaut Talgat Musabayev plays with the LEGO Mars Planet Protector toy while aboard the ISS. (HO/WirePix)

Lego Mars Protector?

Lego has just released their new toy in their "Life on Mar" Series. Here Cosmonaut and Soyuz Commander Talgat Musabayev tests one out in Zero G. I am told these are very popular with the kids on Mars.

Is it a toy? Well according to the Smithsonian...

"The Lego Company, being active in the non space area, in co-operation with Intospace, a space industry service provider, developed a space education project aimed at developing, launching and operating a Lego Robot on the Space Station. This series is a highly sophisticated assembly set with programmable microchips and advanced reaction systems such as light-, touch or rotational sensors. The space environment of the ISS was perceived as the right scenario for this hi-tech project."

adsabs.harvard.edu...

Those lucky Martian kids

I have mixed feelings on this. On one hand LEGO is doing some cool stuff with robotics, and it's a great way for kids of all ages to work with robtics and spark their intrest. On the other hand I feel like having astronauts spend their time on ISS playing with toys is just the type of thing that makes the masses think space exploration is a waste of money.

I mean seriously, all the money and time we have spent building ISS and our return is an ad campaign for a toy company? All the money and time we spend training astronauts to go into space and they only make a hand full of trips during their career at best and when they do go into space they spend the time play with legos?

It's almost as if they want the public to be disappointed and uninterested.

Originally posted by fieryjaguarpaw
I mean seriously, all the money and time we have spent building ISS and our return is an ad campaign for a toy company?

Actually your wrong. See the Russians have learned that capitalism really works... So while NASA has rules against advertising, the Russians say "Bring it on!"

The money for these ad campaigns comes from private corporations. Russia is using American advertising to pay for its space program

Stupid NASA won't take the money from private firms, but is okay with reaching into your pocket

Pizza Hut Delivers in Space

A Pizza Hut logo appeared on the side of the Proton rocket that launched the Zvezda service module; part of Russia's commercialization of its cash strapped space program

First Pizza in space...


Station captain Yuri Usachev proudly displays the first chain pizza out of the gravity well. (HO/WirePix)

In may, four major corporations -- Radio Shack, Popular Mechanics, The LEGO Company and Pizza Hut -- paid to have cosmonauts promote consumer goods aboard the outpost. Meanwhile on Earth, U.S. federal government regulations have relegated NASA to the sidelines as the cash strapped Russians are rocketing off into a new age of high flying advertising, marketing and promotion. Said Jay McGill, publisher of Popular Mechanics: "Anything can be done for rubles."

www.space.com...

Pizza Hut now holds the record for the first pizza delivered to space, the fastest delivery, the furthest delivery and the highest delivery.

The International Space Supercenter (ISS) Shopping Mall