Robot known as Kirobo is designed to be companion for astronaut Koichi Wakata
The first talking humanoid robot "astronaut" has taken off in a rocket en route to the International Space Station.
Kirobo – derived from the Japanese words for "hope" and "robot" – was among five tonnes of supplies and machinery on a rocket launched on Sunday for the International Space Station from Tanegashima, south-western Japan, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or Jaxa, said.
The childlike robot was designed to be a companion for the astronaut Koichi Wakata, and will communicate with another robot on Earth, according to developers. Wakata is expected to arrive at the space station in November.
The robot designer Tomotaka Takahashi, of the University of Tokyo, the advertiser Dentsu and the carmaker Toyota worked on the robot. The challenge was making sure it could move and talk where there was no gravity.
Before the launch, the 34cm (13in) tall Kirobo told reporters: "One small step for me, a giant leap for robots."
Japan boasts the most sophisticated robotics in the world, but tends to favour robots with emotional appeal and human-like characteristics influenced by its "manga" culture, a use of technology that has at times drawn criticism for being not productive.
But Takahashi, the designer, said sending a robot into space could help write a new chapter in the history of communication.
"I wish for this robot to function as a mediator between person and machine, or person and internet and sometimes even between people," he said.
Jaxa, Japan's equivalent of Nasa, said the rocket launch was successful, and the separation of a cargo vehicle, carrying the robot to the space station, was confirmed about 15 minutes after liftoff.
