Robonaut 2, a humanoid robot aboard the International Space Station (ISS), is getting a pair of legs next week when SpaceX completes its resupply mission.

According to Space.com, Robonaut 2's legs will be among several other experiment equipment aboard the unmanned Dragon spacecraft. Powered by a Falcon 9 rocket, the SpaceX craft is set to launch from Cape Canaveral Monday, April 14.

"The new legs are designed for work both inside and outside the station, but upgrades to R2's upper body will be necessary before it can begin work outside the space station," NASA officials said in a statement released last month.

Once applied to Robonaut 2, the legs will allow the robot to perform standard daily tasks, clearing time in the day for ISS crewmembers to handle more complicated matters. Although, it is not clear how long it will take R2 to learn the repetitive tasks.

"In preparation for future spacewalks, R2 has worked inside the space station with space blankets and other flexible materials, both through ground control and through teleoperation by the on-board crew," NASA said.

SpaceX, owned by Elon Musk, and Orbital Sciences are two private companies who each have contracts with NASA to fly ISS resupply missions. They both indicate a desire for NASA to end its reliance on Russia and other countries to aid in its space travel.

Currently, it is inevitable for the two countries to need each other. One ISS crewmember is American and two are Russians. Both replaced their countrymen last month in two missions that took off from and landed in Russia.

The Washington Post reported the White House will not even get in the way of the two nation's space cooperation. In fact, President Obama ordered all government agencies, except NASA, to end communications with Russia.

The U.S. would certainly like to end its reliance, but the two countries are the unquestioned leaders in the space industry.

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