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Taking a page from Seveneves, what is the minimum set of robotics required for parity with the general-purpose abilities of a human astronaut? Humans can repai
by sterlind 9y ago
Taking a page from Seveneves, what is the minimum set of robotics required for parity with the general-purpose abilities of a human astronaut?
Humans can repair electronics, perform assembly in space and run a wide variety of experiments. Automation works, but it's hard to make as general-purpose.
- greenhouse_gas 9y agoIt's much cheaper (and safer) to throw away a satellite than to develop and fly a shuttle.
- sterlind 9y agoI'm in agreement with you there. but launching a new satellite for every task rapidly gets expensive. could you imagine the ISS being assembled by satellites alone? humans are good at assembling and maintaining things. asteroid mining will provide an impetus to develop assembly robots capable of matching human flexibility and autonomy. we're not there yet, though.