Russia’s SAR-400 robotic cosmonaut—which bears some significant similarity to NASA’s Robonaut—is in practice for its first ever space walk. But don’t worry, because it will be controlled from afar, just like in this picture.
SAR-401 has been designed to service the outside of the ISS, where its arms and fingers will be controlled by a human sat in the safety of the space station. That’s exactly what’s happening in this image, with a cosmonaut showing how easy it is to control the automaton. SAR-401 will be the first robot to be used outside the ISS, and should help prevent any Gravity-like disasters. Hopefully. [New Scientist]
Image byMikhail Pochuyev/Photas/Tass/PA
