Those international space station robots have only one-way tickets

(International Space Station's Robots: One-Way Tickets) Recently, NASA and JAXA installed a new robot aboard the International Space Station. Its primary function is to help astronauts save time. The robot is called Int-Ball, a spherical unit equipped with a camera. It can be remotely controlled from Earth and uses a set of thrusters to move around the space station, recording everything that happens. Int-Ball is fully constructed via 3D printing, utilizing existing drone technology. It looks like a shimmering blue eye floating in space. JAXA mentioned that this robot can move independently at any time and place while capturing images from every possible angle. It weighs 1 kilogram, has a diameter of 15 centimeters, and is powered by 12 propellers. Launched earlier this year aboard SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket, Int-Ball is currently located in the Japanese experimental module of the space station. JAXA estimates that astronauts spend approximately 10% of their time taking photos of their work and sending them back to Earth for analysis. Thanks to Int-Ball, astronauts now have more time for scientific experiments and maintaining the station. Int-Ball isn't the first robotic visitor to the space station. It’s more accurate to say that there’s a whole robot park up there. Back in 2006, NASA sent three flying robots known as SPHERES to the International Space Station. These robots have logged over 600 hours conducting experiments in space, including autonomous flight, navigation, mapping, and even executing programs written by middle school students in team competitions. American astronaut Scott Kelly worked alongside the SPHERES on the ISS. SPHERES require constant supervision by astronauts due to safety concerns, such as fire risks, and depend on replaceable alkaline batteries to power their CO2 propulsion tanks. Later, SPHERES were succeeded by Astrobee, a newer platform designed to operate autonomously and safely within the ISS. The most significant upgrade was its propulsion system, which now uses electric propulsion and can recharge at docking stations. Astrobee operates freely in the U.S., European, and Japanese modules of the ISS, showcasing greater autonomy and mobility. Additionally, last October, Russia’s Roscosmos announced plans to send a small, charming spherical robot named Spotty to the ISS. Spotty features a projection device allowing VKontakte users to follow along with what’s happening on the ISS in real-time. Users can also view pictures and videos and engage in conversations with astronauts. However, reports suggest that Spotty hasn’t yet reached the ISS despite initial plans. There are numerous robots aboard the ISS. In 2013, Toyota developed Kirobo, a compact robot measuring just 34 centimeters tall and weighing 1 kilogram. It’s highly flexible, voice-activated, and capable of recognizing faces and human emotions, engaging in conversation with astronauts. Even earlier, in 2010, NASA introduced Robonaut R2 aboard the space shuttle Discovery, making it the first robot to reach the ISS. Initially, R2 was used for testing purposes, but as technology advanced, it began assisting astronauts with extravehicular activities and performing dangerous tasks like spacewalking. For its first three years on the ISS, R2 was limited to its torso, head, and arms. In 2014, NASA sent it a pair of legs, increasing its height from 1.3 meters to 2.5 meters. This enhanced version allowed R2 to handle more complex tasks inside and outside the station, such as cleaning and retrieving objects. However, R2’s journey to space is a one-way trip. Once aboard the ISS, it remains there indefinitely, never returning to Earth. This diverse array of robots demonstrates humanity's growing commitment to space exploration and the invaluable assistance they provide to astronauts in orbit.

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