Tomotaka Takahashi and Kirobo.

Japan has dispatched the world’s first talking robot to the International Space Station to serve as companion to astronaut Kochi Wakata when he begins his mission in November.

The small robot’s design is a homage to the legendary Astro Boy.

Called Kirobo, its name derives from the Japanese words for “hope” and “robot”.

That this is all for science is something you can tell from it being a joint project between Takahashi, Toyota and the advertising company Dentsu.

[Thanks to Janice Gelb for the story.]