Cosmonaut Oleg Skripochka recently completed an engineering experiment on the International Space Station, in which he was strapped into a robotic arm and allowed to be slowly maneuvered around the exterior of the space station. This was the first time any cosmonaut had done such an experiment, and is a first in terms of exploring novel ways to work in space. Ultimately it was a success, and the experiment has opened up new potential uses of robotic arms in space.
Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko rode the Canadian-made Canadarm2 robotic arm outside the International Space Station for the first time. The mission was to evaluate the technical capabilities of the robotic arm and its ability to transport a crew member while conducting space science experiments. This was the first time a human had ever been transported outside the station using the Canadarm2.
