It was at the beginning of last month when the robot Kirobo was sent to space as an astronaut – or rather, space tourist. So far, we have not heard from it since then – at least not until today, where the Japanese talking robot’s message from space has arrived, beautifully timed to coincide with the Land of the Rising Sun’s bid to host the 2020 Olympic Games. Calling home for the first time while it remains in orbit 230 miles above the earth at a velocity of over 17,000 miles per hour, this pint-sized robot now holds the proud record of being the first robot to “speak” from space, according to the team of researchers who were behind Kirobo.
Kirobo stands at 34cm in height and tips the scales at just 1kg, where it broadcasted a message from the International Space Station (ISS), delivering greetings to the numerous citizens of Earth while paying a cheeky tribute to Neil Armstrong. Kirobo said, “On August 21, 2013, a robot took one small step toward a brighter future for all.” It continued in Japanese, “Good morning to everyone on Earth. This is Kirobo. I am the world’s first talking robot astronaut. Nice to meet you.” We do wonder what Kirobo does to pass its time in space…
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