MAGNITOGORSK, RUSSIA - DECEMBER 8, 2016: Testing the Russian humanoid rescue robot Fyodor created by the Russian Foundation for Advanced Research Projects by order of the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry, at the Android Technics Scientific Production Association. The robot can be remotely controlled by a person in a special suit or work autonomously performing voice commands. Photo by Donat SorokinTASS via Getty Images.

Russian capsule carrying robot fails space station docking

Science

MOSCOW  — A Russian space capsule carrying a humanoid robot has failed to dock as planned with the International Space Station.

A statement from the Russian space agency Roscosmos said the failure on Saturday was because of problems in the docking system. It said the space station itself and the six-person crew are safe.

Roscosmos head Dmitry Rogozin said on Twitter that a new docking attempt would be made on Tuesday.

The capsule was launched Thursday as part of tests of a new rocket that is expected to replace the Soyuz-FG next year.

It is carrying a robot called Fedor, which will perform two weeks of tests aboard the space station. Vladimir Solovyev, flight director for the Russian segment of the ISS, said the robot had not been taught how to manually conduct a docking.

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Russian capsule carrying robot fails space station docking first appeared on the PBS News website.

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