“NASA is considering the Space Robotics Challenge to quickly advance the autonomous capabilities of dexterous mobile robots, particularly those of humanoid format, while also providing complex robotic platforms for the robotics community on which to deploy and test their advanced software. The scope of this challenge involves tasks that humanoid robots would perform either in transit to or at locations (such as the surface of Mars) for deep space exploration missions. Future manned-missions to deep space destinations will likely require pre-cursor robotic mission to deploy and prepare habitats, power systems and other infrastructure. Furthermore once humans arrive, a need will exist for robotic astronaut assistants both in intra-vehicular and extra-vehicular environments. Some of these robots may be of humanoid form as to fit into astronaut environments without modifications.”