Robot astronaut. Male researcher controlling Robonaut, a robot astronaut, as it grips a drill handle. He is using a virtual reality headset, which sees through Robonaut's two camera eyes, and a motion-sensitive glove. In space, this human- sized android will be operated by telepresence, mimicking the actions of astronauts inside the space shuttle, for example. As well as replacing humans on risky spacewalks, the robot can rapidly deal with outside emergencies. Robonaut's five dextrous fingers can handle the astronaut's specialist tools, and the 150 sensors in each arm allow it to handle even delicate objects. Robonaut was developed at NASA's Johnson Space Center, USA.