Robotics specialists are developing softball-sized, floating orbs to patrol for leaks and other problems inside the International Space Station and to provide astronauts with services such as teleconferencing.

For more information on the robot (called the Personal Satellite Assistant), see these Web sites: http://george.arc.nasa.gov/dx/basket/pressrelease/99_53AR.html and http://ic-www.arc.nasa.gov/ic/psa/.

Howie Choset
Carnegie Mellon University
Robotics Institute
5000 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213

Hans Thomas
NASA Ames Research Center Intelligent Mechanics Group
Mailstop Code 269-3
Moffett Field, CA 94035

From Science News, Vol. 156, No. 13, September 25, 1999, p. 197. Copyright © 1999, Science Service.