Space Robot Designed As Companion For Japanese Astronaut  Japan
has launched a humanoid robot bound for the International Space
Station to keep one of its astronauts company.    The Iron Man
suit hasn't taken off yet, but Kirobo has already left for
space.  KIROBO: (Foreign language spoken)  CORNISH: Kirobo is
meant to be a companion for Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata. It
will also be able to communicate with another robot back on
Earth, presumably if Kirobo and Wakata run out of things to talk
about. Before the launch, Kirobo told reporters: One small step
for me, a giant leap for robots. Well, for mankind's sake, we
just hope Kirobo's personality is like this.   BEN BURT: (as
Wall-E) Wall-E.  UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: (as Character) Wall-E.
CORNISH: And not this.   KEIR DULLEA: (as Dr. Dave Bowman) Open
the pod bay doors, HAL.  DOUGLAS RAIN: (as HAL) I'm sorry, Dave.
I'm afraid I can't do that.        Support comes from: