Astronauts to get some rest before next spacewalk
Thursday, 20 March 2008
HOUSTON, Mar 19 (Reuters): Astronauts on the International Space Station and shuttle Endeavour were looking forward to some down time Wednesday after they repositioned a new handyman robot.
The Canadian-built robot, named Dextre, was assembled in orbit and outfitted with tools by spacewalking astronauts to tackle maintenance and repairs on the complex.
The 12-foot-(3.7-metre-)tall handyman will perch on the outside of the US Destiny laboratory until it is needed.
"He looks like a gunfighter," Endeavour commander Dom Gorie radioed to Mission Control.
The Canadian-built robot, named Dextre, was assembled in orbit and outfitted with tools by spacewalking astronauts to tackle maintenance and repairs on the complex.
The 12-foot-(3.7-metre-)tall handyman will perch on the outside of the US Destiny laboratory until it is needed.
"He looks like a gunfighter," Endeavour commander Dom Gorie radioed to Mission Control.