WASHINGTON (AFP) - - Astronauts at the International Space Station Tuesday put in place a massive human-like robot designed to replace them in handling delicate maintenance tasks outside the ISS, NASA said.



Two US astronauts finished assembling Dextre, the robot that completes a major Canadian contribution to ISS operations, during a nearly seven-hour space walk that began Monday.

Rick Linnehan and Robert Behnken put together the tool-handling assembly of the 200 million dollar (126 million euro) robot and attached a spare-parts platform, readying Dextre for duties outside the ISS that have up until now been handled by astronauts.

Linnehan and Behnken wrapped up their walk after six hours and 53 minutes outside the station, doing so on the 43rd anniversary of the very first walk in space by a human, when a Russian cosmonaut strode into the abyss for 12 minutes on March 18, 1965.

"They did a fantastic job. Some of the maneuvers they had to do were like threading a needle," Dana Weigel, lead ISS flight director, said in a press conference after the walk.

"The mission is going very well," she added.

Delivered to the ISS on the space shuttle Endeavour, the "dextrous manipulator" is the third and final component of the Canadarm Remote Manipulator System, the robotic arm that is Canada's vital contribution to the station.

The arms of the human-shaped robot were put through a successful test on Sunday. After being joined to the Remote Manipulator System, Dextre is to be permanently stowed on the outside of the Destiny laboratory module on Tuesday. Over the next two days astronauts will put it through more tests of its joints and other capabilities, to ensure it is in working order.

Manipulated by joysticks inside the ISS or from ground control on Earth, the 1.56-tonne robot will conduct operations such as replacing small components on the station's exterior -- tasks which until now required a human touch.

Each of its "hands" has two retractable grippers that can grab equipment and tools. The hands also each carry a retractable motorized socket wrench, a camera and a light for viewing the work undertaken.

The robot's human-like upper torso swivels at the waist, and its arms were designed with seven joints to provide it with maximum versatility. Umbilical connectors provide power and data connectivity.

The 16-day Endeavour mission launched on March 11 is the longest at the ISS and will see the crew venture out on five space walks, totaling about 30 hours of work.

On Friday astronauts undertook another lengthy spacewalk to complete the installation of the initial component of Japan's Kibo laboratory onto the ISS.

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's Kibo laboratory is a micro-gravity research facility which aims to a vital new stage in deeper space exploration.

With its installation, Japan gains a foothold on the ISS alongside the United States, Russia and Europe, whose laboratory Columbus was delivered to the station in February.

Another segment of Kibo is scheduled to be delivered to the ISS on the Discovery shuttle in May.

   

Arms, legs, head.

And where do we put our flag?

Right on his 'willie'.

Go Canada!



(Edit, added image, so you don't all think I'm totally 'gone')

   

That 'willie' doesn't really seem to serve a purpose. Though I suppose it's a party favor for all the female astronauts. Long time in space and all.