Blastoff! Talking robot Kirobo to head off to space

This final note: You can look forward to the first conversation between a human and a robot in space.

That’s right. It’s happening. This fall, a “humanoid communication robot” called Kirobo will travel to the International Space Station.

He, or she, or it, is about a foot tall. Kirobo “speaks” Japanese. Its mission is to keep astronauts company.

It can get lonely out there.