This is the moment Russia’s first humanoid robot Fedor assists an astronaut on board the International Space Station after it was blasted into orbit on an unmanned spacecraft.
In the clip, the humanoid assistant is seen holding a towel in what might be a reference to ‘The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy’.
According to Douglas Adams’ science-fiction comedy classic, “a towel is about the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker can have.”
Video Credit: CEN/@FEDOR37516789
The footage also shows Fedor holding a drill which it then hands to an astronaut. The robot was sent into space to learn new skills so that it and others like it can carry out dangerous operations instead of astronauts, such as space walks.
The life-sized robot was launched into orbit on 22nd August after a failed launch several days before.
On the second attempt, the robot blasted off from a Russian spaceport in southern Kazakhstan and Fedor will assist astronauts on board the International Space Station (ISS) until 7th September, according to reports.
Fedor was propelled into the cosmos by a Soyuz-2.1a launch vehicle as part of the ongoing Soyuz MS-14 spaceflight.
Soyuz crafts are normally manned, but this time no one accompanied Fedor in order to test a new emergency rescue system, according to reports.
The humanoid robot’s duties are being supervised by astronaut Alexei Ovchinin and its functions are controlled by Alexander Skvortsov, who also works at the space station.
Fedor is due to return to Earth on 7th September.
Netizen ‘MiR’ commented: “Such idiocy, the Russian space agency has nothing else to do other than play with dolls and puzzles.”
‘KeshaZubkin’ said: “Fedor worked with a drill on the ISS? Quick, give him a gun and send him into battle!”
While ‘Margulis’ said: “A good robot should replace a man. Then he should become president.”
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Story By: Elena Kalioglo, Sub-Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Central European News
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