Space isn't exactly the safest of places for squishy meatbags like us, what with the lack of atmosphere and all. But when satellites in orbit break, somebody's got to fix them. That's why NASA is developing a robotic remote viewing system called the VIPIR (Visual Inspection Poseable Invertebrate Robot). It leverages an articulating borescope as well as a zoom-lens camera to help Earth-bound engineers troubleshoot external issues aboard the ISS, launch vehicles and satellites. NASA is currently in the second phase of operational testing with the VIPIR. Eventually the space agency hopes to eventually pair these eyes with Dextre, Canada's dual-armed spacebot that is currently serving aboard the ISS.
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