The Japan Aerospace
Exploration Agency (JAXA) launched the humanoid Kirobo "robot
astronaut" into orbit from the Tanegashima Space Center in southern Japan
as part of nearly 3.5 tons of supplies and equipment to resupply the space
station's six-person crew
Kirobo was packed inside
Japan's unmanned HTV-4 (Kounotori 4)
cargo ship when it launched into orbit atop the country's H-2B rocket at 3:48 p.m. EDT (1948 GMT), though it was early
Sunday morning (Aug. 4) Japan Standard Time at the time of liftoff. The HTV-4
spacecraft will arrive at the space station on Aug. 9
Kirobo was put through a
series of zero-gravity and other safety tests before it was deemed ready for
flight. Image
posted June 27, 2013.
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