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Dextre Stretches His Limbs

Posted Mar 17, 08 10:30 AM CDT in US,  Science & Health 

(Newser) – Dextre, the International Space Station’s own gigantic space robot, flexed its mighty arms for the first time last night, the Houston Chronicle reports. Astronauts put the bot through its paces, moving and stopping each of its 14 arm joints. Dextre mostly passed the test; every joint moved perfectly save one, which took longer to brake than expected.

Canada’s space agency, which created Dextre, is confident that more use will smooth out the joint problem. “We are ready to bring Dextre to life,” joked one astronaut. The robot isn’t quite complete, however. A spacewalk tonight will finish the job, arming Dextre with a toolbelt and tools. Then, Dextre will await his first assignment, which might not come until next spring.

Source Houston Chronicle

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Graphic gives details about NASA's Dextre robot.   (AP Photo)
An astronaut outside the international space station works on putting together Dextre, the gigantic walking and working machine on Saturday March 15, 2008.   (AP Photo/NASA)
Astronauts Michael Foreman and Richard Linnehan work on putting together Dextre, the final element of the station's Mobile Servicing System.   (AP Photo/NASA)
This undated artist's illustration of the Canadian space robot Dextre was released by the Canadian Space Agency in Longueuil, Canada, Friday, March 14, 2008.   (AP Photo/Canadian Space Agency via THE CANADIAN PRESS)
This photo shows shuttle astronaut Michael Foreman, left, and astronaut Richard Linnehan work outside the international space station putting together Dextre.   (AP Photo/NASA)
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NASA • International Space Station • space • astronauts • spacewalk • robot • Dextre


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