Article and Photos by Tommy Anderson
While on assignment at the 2015
Comic-Con International Convention in
San Diego I got a chance to talk to a
representative from NASA.
Michael
S.
Geherale
of
NASA
introduced me to R2 who is part of the
future of manned space travel. R2 is an
automated
space
traveler
who
is
operated by an astronaut at another
location through virtual Reality.
R2 is not an astronaut and it isn’t a robot. NASA calls it a Robonaut. R2 is
currently being tested on the International Space Station at this time. The R2
will make space travel safer for astronauts. Much like a drone pilot an
astronaut either on a spacecraft or even here on Earth would put on a helmet
and control the R2 just as if he or she were doing the operation. This would
allow for repairs and exploration outside of the spacecraft by the R2 without
risking the life of an astronaut. Mr. Geherale said also that R2 might be the
solution for the lengthy exploration of MARS without risking the lives of
astronauts. At this time the R2 is working on the International Space Station
doing tasks such as changing air filters and other intricate tasks. The hands
on the R2 are designed to have the same dexterity of a human and as a result
it can use the same tools that a human would. In the future the R2 will be
doing tasks and repairs outside of the space station.
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