Japan launched an unmanned spacecraft carrying numerous supplies for astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS), including one talking robot that will aid a future mission, BBC News reported.
The craft launched Saturday from the island of Tanegashima with Kirobo, who will be the first talking robot to travel into space. The craft, also carrying food, water, clothing and work supplies to crewmembers, is set to arrive on Aug. 9.
Kirobo will serve as a companion to Japanese astronaut Kochi Wakata, who begins his mission in November. The robot will also test how a machine can provide emotional support and comfort to those spending long periods of time isolated, as part of a study.
Kirobo's name comes from the Japanese words for "hope" and "robot." It stands about 13 inches tall and weighs just over two pounds. Wakata will take over as ISS commander later this year and Kirobo has been designed to record conversations with him as the two communicate. Additionally, Kirobo will be able to send messages to the astronaut from the control room.
"Kirobo will remember Mr Wakata's face so it can recognise him when they reunite up in space," the robot's developer, Tomotaka Takahashi said. "I wish for this robot to function as a mediator between a person and machine, or a person and the Internet, and sometimes even between people."
Scientists on Earth will be able to monitor if anything happens to Kirobo with an identical twin named Mirata. The biggest challenge was ensuring Kirobo's reliability in space, Takahashi said, taking nine months and dozens of tests to do so.
The project is a collaboration between Takahashi, advertising company Dentsu and the car company Toyota.
When Kirobo was unveiled last June, a Toyota official asked the robot what its dream was, Space.com reported.
Kirobo replied: "I want to help create a world where humans and robots can live together."
