Robonaut: the 'short list' of technology hurdles

The International Space Station highlights NASA's reliance on extravehicular activity spacewalks to configure external equipment, connect services, and perform maintenance. Conventional EVA operations are planned for two astronauts working an eight-hour day. The recent emergence of highly dexterous space robots could help conserve EVA hours by relieving humans of many routine inspection and maintenance chores and assisting them in more complex tasks. As astronaut surrogates, the robots could take risks unacceptable to humans, respond more quickly to EVA emergencies, and work around the clock on renewable power. NASAL plans to someday deploy EVA teams-that combine the in formation-gathering and problem-solving skills of human astronauts with the survivability and-physical capabilities of diverse robot archetypes.