Those international space station robots have only one-way tickets

Recently, NASA and JAXA installed a new robot aboard the International Space Station. This little robot, called Int-Ball, is a spherical camera drone designed to help astronauts by reducing the time they spend taking photos and sending them back to Earth for analysis. Int-Ball is made entirely of 3D-printed materials and uses existing drone technology. It's controlled remotely from Earth and can fly autonomously within the space station. The name Int-Ball comes from its appearance—it looks like a floating blue eye. Weighing just 1 kilogram and measuring 15 centimeters in diameter, it has 12 propellers that allow it to navigate the station. Its main function is to document activities inside the station, which helps cut down on the time astronauts spend on administrative tasks. Int-Ball was launched earlier this year aboard SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket and is currently operating in the Japanese experimental module. According to JAXA, astronauts typically spend about 10 percent of their time capturing images and sending them back home. With Int-Ball, they can focus more on scientific research and maintenance. Interestingly, Int-Ball isn't the first robot to call the ISS home. Over the years, several other robots have been sent up, each with unique features and functions. For instance, back in 2006, NASA sent three small flying robots known as SPHERES to the station. These robots were designed to conduct experiments related to autonomous flight, navigation, and mapping. They were also used for educational purposes, allowing middle school students to write programs for them. SPHERES required constant supervision because they were powered by disposable alkaline batteries and relied on CO2 tanks for propulsion. While they were effective, they had limitations compared to newer models like Astrobee. Astrobee is a next-generation robot that operates fully autonomously and uses electric propulsion, making it safer and more efficient than its predecessors. Another notable robot is SPOTTY, developed by the Russian Federal Space Agency. SPOTTY is also spherical and equipped with a projection device, allowing users on Earth to virtually experience life aboard the ISS. Through the social media platform Vkontakte, users can interact with astronauts, receive images and videos from space, and even chat directly with them. Although SPOTTY was scheduled to launch last year, there haven’t been recent updates confirming its deployment. In addition to these, there have been other fascinating robots sent to the ISS. One example is Kirobo, a small humanoid robot created by Toyota, which arrived at the station in 2013. Standing at just 34 centimeters tall and weighing only 1 kilogram, Kirobo is highly flexible and capable of recognizing faces and understanding human emotions. It communicates verbally with astronauts and assists them in various ways. Then there’s Robonaut R2, the first humanoid robot to reach the ISS. Initially sent to the station in 2011 aboard the space shuttle Discovery, R2 began as a torso with a head and arms. It lacked legs until 2014 when NASA upgraded it with a pair of robotic limbs. Since then, R2 has been helping astronauts with routine tasks like cleaning and fetching objects. However, unlike some of the other robots, R2 has a one-way ticket to space—it stays permanently on the ISS unless something extraordinary happens. All these robots represent different stages of development in space robotics. From simple flying drones to advanced humanoids, each plays a role in enhancing our understanding of how machines can assist humans in space exploration. As technology continues to evolve, we can expect even more sophisticated robots joining the crew on future missions.

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