CONTENTS CHAPTER ONE Robots in Space 4 CHAPTER TWO Early Missions 10 CHAPTER THREE Challenges of Space 18 CHAPTER FOUR Space Robots in Action 28 CHAPTER FIVE The Future Mars and Beyond 36 Fast Facts 42 Stop and Think 44 Glossary 46 Online Resources 47 Learn More 47 Index 48 About the Author 48
CHAPTER ONE
ROBOTS IN SPACE Outside the International Space a storage area The two-armed robot spins Station ISS a robot named Dextre grabs a battery from around through space He snaps the battery into its slot The robotic handyman has just changed some of the station’s batteries They power the ISS when its solar panels are not in direct sunlight Dextre’s full name is the Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator The robot joined the ISS crew in 2008 Its job is to do repairs outside the station It also helps unload cargo Dextre helps astronauts with jobs outside the space station
