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Dextre Tooled Up, Good to Go

Spacewalkers put finishing touches on giant space robot

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Mar 18, 2008 8:33 AM CDT

(Newser) – Dextre, the colossal space robot, is ready to go and awaiting instructions after astronauts successfully fitted the 12-foot helper with a tool kit and cameras for "eyes" last night, Space.com reports. Dextre is set to take up residence outside the International Space Station's Destiny lab later today and will undergo tests before it is asked to perform major tasks.

The robot will take over some exterior maintenance on the ISS from astronauts—who are still getting used to having Dextre around. "It's kind of surreal to be out there and floating around in space looking out at this giant, white robot that looks like something from Star Wars," an astronaut said. "But it isn't sci-fi, this is reality."

[Images (5)]

[Videos (1)]

Graphic gives details about NASA's Dextre robot; 2c x 3 3/4 inches; 96.3 mm x 95.3 mm (AP Photo)

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 made from NASA TV shows shuttle astronaut Michael Foreman, left, and astronaut Richard Linnehan work outside the international space station putting together Dextre. (AP Photo/NASA)

This photo made from NASA TV shows Shuttle astronauts Richard Linnehan and Michael Foreman outside the international space station as they work on putting together Dextre. (AP Photo/NASA)

This photo made from NASA TV shows shuttle astronauts Richard Linnehan and Michael Foreman outside the international space station as they work on putting together Dextre. (AP Photo/NASA)

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"Dextre" - Special Purpose Dextrous Manipulator - gets powered up. (issmania (YouTube))

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Dextre Tooled Up, Good to Go