Astrorobonaut Can R 2 Assume Iss Command

The humanoid Robonaut-2 (R-2) was powered-up by inside the International Space Station (ISS) on Sept. 1, 2011 but the astronauts and NASA's Mission Control team noted the need to make sensor adjustments prior to "first motion" by mid-month.

AVIATION WEEK notes, "Project engineers plan a continuing series of workouts that in the near term place R2 before a task board in Destiny to assess the machine's effectiveness with a collection of tools. Next, he may take on maintenance duties in the lab, cleaning air flow filters and sanitizing handrails."

The 330-pound humanoid robot is set to begin its life as an astronaut's assistant or, come November is it to become the acting-commander aboard the International Space Station if each of the six humans depart due to lack of human space transports?

R-2 ground controllers say the robot may be able to take on a few mundane chores - like taking air velocity measurements inside the space station - early next year. Plans now call for R-2 to gain space legs in 2013 for subsequent ISS spacewalks.

But can Robonaut-2 deal with a rapid promotion from astronaut-assistant to ISS command? Can NASA programmers speed the development to tend the space station should humans be required to depart in November? Exactly what R-2 is possibily capable to do if there are no humans around? Are NASA and GM considering such a plan? Where are the "failure is not an option" robot engineers?

Source: anomalies-in-backyard.blogspot.com