One small step for a robot?

• Position: Space - Robonaut 2 - Brief article

When President Barack Obama balked at the $150 billion price tag to send astronauts back to the moon last spring, engineers at NASA came up with an alternative: They said they can send a humanoid robot for a walk on the moon for less than $200 million (plus $250 million for a rocket) as soon as next year. Using robots has some advantages: They don't need air, food, intensive training--or a return ticket. Next month, Robonaut 2, developed by NASA and General Motors, is scheduled to become the first humanoid robot in space, helping with chores at the International Space Station and giving...