Kirobo was the first robot astronaut sent to the International Space Station as a conversational companion.
Kirobo launched from Tanegashima Space Center on 4 August 2013 aboard a Japanese H-II Transfer Vehicle and arrived at the ISS later that month. The small humanoid robot was developed by the University of Tokyo, Toyota, and advertising agency Dentsu, with support from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency.
Its main purpose was to study how a robot could communicate with humans in space. Kirobo recognized Japanese speech, answered some questions, and held conversations with astronaut Koichi Wakata. The project also explored whether a conversational robot could provide psychological support during long missions.
Kirobo is often confused with Robonaut 2. Robonaut 2 arrived earlier and was designed for physical work, making it the first humanoid robot in space. Kirobo’s distinction concerns conversational companionship, not general robotic labor or autonomous navigation.