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New Robot On The International Space Station Comes With 'Tude

RACHEL MARTIN, HOST:

Good morning. I'm Rachel Martin, and this is Simon.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

SIMON: Closing the current procedure.

MARTIN: Simon is a German robot who has been living on the International Space Station with Commander Alexander Gerst. But as demonstrated in a video, Simon can get a little testy. At one point in the demonstration, Gerst asks the robot to play some music - no problem. But when Gerst asked him to stop, Simon refuses. Then, the emotional manipulation sets in. And Simon asks...

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

SIMON: Don't you like it here with me?

MARTIN: There are high-maintenance friends in space, too. It's MORNING EDITION. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.

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