Japan’s Kibo module on the International Space Station has a new resident. The “Int-Ball” camera drone is intended to relieve the crew of the job of having to take pictures, which JAXA says comprises 10 percent of their time. Int-Ball was delivered to the space station on June 5. It is built using existing drone technology and 3D-printed parts, and is controlled remotely by operators at the JAXA Tsukaba Space Center. As well as freeing up the crew’s time, the drone also enables more effective collaborative work between the space station crew members and mission control on the ground.
And it’s very cute.
Filed Under: Aerospace + defense
