NASA is planning to send a robot surgeon to space for a test mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS). This remote-controlled surgical robot is called MIRA (Miniaturized In-Vivo Robotic Assistance). According to its creators, MIRA is capable of performing surgeries on its own.
MIRA is tiny…its weight is just two pounds. So it can easily fit within an experimental locker the size of microwave on the ISS. It will be sent to the ISS in 2024 to test in zero gravity.
MIRA is developed by Shane Farritor, Co-Founder and Chief Technical Officer of Virtual Incision Corporation.
MIRA will perform a variety of tests, such as cutting elastic bands and manipulating rings on a wire. These tests involve movements that mimic the intricate movements used frequently in surgery.
If required it can also be controlled remotely
In case an astronaut on Mars or Moon requires surgery, NASA could arrange a specialized doctor. Then doctors on Earth could perform surgical operations on astronauts in space while controlling the device remotely.
One day, as humans travel deeper and deeper into space, surgery may be required. In a statement, Shane Farritor stated, “We are working toward that goal.”
MIRA could also be used to perform surgeries remotely in rural and underprivileged areas
Looking at its capabilities in space, MIRA could also prove to be a lifesaver on Earth as well. In the future, it could also be used to cure people in remote areas of the world.
