A robotics perspective on human spaceflight

There has traditionally been a dichotomy in the space community regarding the efficacy of human versus robotic exploration of space. I argue that no such dichotomy is necessary, and that there is a natural and synergistic division of labour between man and machine, and that this division of labour will evolve in symbiotic fashion. The present state-of-the-art robotics technology is insufficient to replace the human in space, but is sufficient to act as a useful, even necessary, tool in aiding the astronaut in the conduct of useful work. I further argue that as robotics technology advances, the human will be further relieved to perform tasks best suited to human decision-making and flexibility that is unlikely in the near-term to be matched by autonomous or teleoperated machines.