Russian space robot docks with ISS to begin mission

Humanoid was the only ‘passenger’ aboard the Soyuz spacecraft

Russia has successfully docked a Soyuz spacecraft carrying a humanoid robot to the International Space Station (ISS) following a failed attempt on Saturday.

A robot named Fedor (Final Experimental Demonstration Object Research) was the only “passenger” onboard the Soyuz MS-14 and is on a mission to support the crew and test its skills.

A previous docking had failed due to a faulty component within one of the ISS’s automatic docking ports.

To resolve the issue, astronauts aboard the ISS got into another Soyuz spacecraft that was attached to a separate port and flew it around the space station in order to free up a fully functioning port for the robot’s capsule to dock.

“Watching in admiration of the agility and cooperation of international space programs to work through the dynamics of human space flight,” tweeted Nasa’s Christina Koch, who is on board the ISS.

The spacecraft carrying Fedor blasted off at 06.38 Moscow time (03.38 GMT) from Russia’s Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Thursday.

Fedor, also known as Skybot F850, is 180 centimetres high (about six feet tall), weighs 160 kg and will stay on the station until 7 September.

During its time aboard the ISS, the robot will practise using tools in zero gravity. It can perform complex movements by mimicking humans.

“The robot’s main purpose is to be used in operations that are especially dangerous for humans on board spacecraft and in outer space,” said Russian space agency Roscosmos.

It is not the first robot to be sent into space, but it is arguably the most advanced.

In 2011, Nasa sent a humanoid robot called Robonaut 2 to carry out tasks that were too dangerous for human astronauts.

Japan also sent a miniature humanoid robot in 2013 called Kirobo, which spent 18 months aboard the space station before returning to Earth.

The Fedor robot is multi-skilled and versatile, and Roscosmos hopes that it could eventually be used to replace humans on space walks.

A video shared by Russia’s deputy prime minister Dmitry Rogozin before the launch showed the robot carrying out a variety of tasks.

In one clip it is seen driving a car, before lifting weights and doing press-ups.

It is also capable of handling and firing weapons, with one part of the video showing Fedor shooting two handguns with deadly accuracy.