First talking humanoid robot heads for space

The first talking humanoid robot “astronaut” has taken off in a rocket.

Kirobo — derived from the Japanese words for “hope” and “robot” — was among five tonnes of supplies and machinery on a rocket launched for the International Space Station from Tanegashima, southwestern Japan, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, said.

The child-like robot was designed to be a companion for astronaut Koichi Wakata, and will communicate with another robot on Earth, according to developers.