Gigantic robot successfully added to space station
Houston Chronicle Mar 19, 08 5:10 AM CDT
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The giant space robot Dextre moved into his new digs last night, and now resides outside the International Space Station's Destiny lab awaiting his first marching orders. Back at Mission Control the mood is buoyant, reports the Houston Chronicle. "That really was the kind of spacewalk that when it's done, you just want to throw your hands up in the air and howl at the moon," said the project's director after the robot was in place.
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Spacewalkers put finishing touches on giant space robot
Space.com Mar 18, 08 8:33 AM CDT
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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.
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Astronauts test space robot, find minor hiccup
Houston Chronicle Mar 17, 08 10:30 AM CDT
(Newser)
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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.
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7-hour spacewalk brings handyman robot closer to completion
Houston Chronicle Mar 16, 08 7:31 AM CDT
(Newser)
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Dextre the space robot now has arms. Astronauts attached them in an overnight spacewalk outside the International Space Station, the second of three that will be needed to bring the $209 million robot fully to life, the Houston Chronicle reports. On Monday, astronauts will give Dextre a tool belt, lights, and cameras, and he'll be ready to go.
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NASA solves glitch; astronauts continue assembly tonight
Associated Press Mar 15, 08 1:46 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Dextre's finally getting some juice. Astronauts aboard the international space station solved a glitch last night and got power flowing to their partially built robot, the AP reports. Now they can go ahead with a spacewalk tonight to finish assembling it. “There was obviously some real concern over the last day or two for getting that powered up,” said one official.
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Astronauts begin assembling Dextre, despite early glitch
Houston Chronicle Mar 14, 08 9:11 AM CDT
(Newser)
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Astronauts began assembling a 12-foot robot named Dextre last night outside the international space station. The overnight spacewalking mission hit a slight glitch when the robot failed to power up, but NASA officials expect to resolve it soon, the Houston Chronicle reports. Spacewalks on Saturday and Monday will be needed to finish Dextre, who will then take over much of the space station's construction.
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Shuttle docks without hitch but launch video shows possible bird hit
Associated Press Mar 13, 08 3:45 AM CDT
(Newser)
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The Endeavour docked with the international space station without a glitch yesterday just after the shuttle was again examined for damage, AP reports. The craft did a full backflip before docking so every inch of it could be inspected. Launch videos first revealed that something may have hit the shuttle's nose seconds after lift off.
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Shuttle will dock with space station tomorrow
Houston Chronicle Mar 11, 08 6:30 AM CDT
(Newser)
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The shuttle Endeavour thundered off its launch pad early this morning, carrying seven astronauts and two major pieces of hardware to the International Space Station. On board is a $1 billion science module that contains research gear for the station's lab, the first Japanese contribution to the orbital base, reports the Houston Chronicle . Also accompanying the astronauts is a 12-foot, spacewalking Canadian robot bearing the name Dextre.
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It's 12 feet tall, and its name is Dextre
Houston Chronicle Mar 10, 08 2:05 PM CDT
(Newser)
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When the shuttle Endeavour launches at 2:28am tomorrow, it will carry what has been pure sci-fi until now: a giant space robot. After astronauts assemble it, Canada’s Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator, known as “Dextre,” will roam the outside of the International Space Station completing repairs considered too dangerous for spacewalkers, the Houston Chronicle reports.
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Europe's robotic space freighter to service ISS
BBC Mar 9, 08 11:42 AM CDT
(Newser)
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Europe's first automated cargo ship blasted off from the South American jungle early today, headed for a rendezvous with the International Space Station, the BBC reports. The craft—the biggest and most complex that Europe has ever launched—will deliver food, water, pressurized air, fuel, and personal items to the ISS crew and remove garbage.
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Automated vehicle can haul tons of supplies to space station
BBC Mar 8, 08 3:20 PM CST
(Newser)
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Europe is about to launch its most sophisticated spacecraft ever, the BBC reports. The “Jules Verne,” set to take off tomorrow, will deliver supplies to the International Space Station while nudging the station higher into its orbit to prevent it from falling to Earth. The freighter is fully automated—no humans aboard—marking a major step toward manned European missions.
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NASA will soon have
no way to get to ISS
Washington Post Mar 7, 08 2:04 PM CST
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When NASA retires its fleet of space shuttles in 2010, the agency will have no way of sending men into space until 2015, at the earliest, the Washington Post reports. To carry astronauts and cargo to the International Space Station, largely funded by American taxpayers, the US will have to rely on the only other country that can send men into space: Russia. And we'll have to pay for the privilege.
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