Space development company Space Entry has announced plans to send the iconic Haro robot from Mobile Suit Gundam to the International Space Station's Japanese Experiment Module, Kibō. Dubbed the “Hello, Haro” mission, the initiative aims to deploy a robot named “Minna no Haro” to gather data on the viability of autonomous robotics in the harsh environment of outer space.
Esteemed Mobile Suit Gundam mechanical designer Kunio Ōkawara personally crafted the aluminum Haro unit. Measuring 210 millimeters in diameter and weighing approximately 4.5 kilograms, the robot is equipped with internal propellers for 360-degree movement and cameras for ground monitoring. It will also feature microphones to facilitate communication with Japanese astronauts aboard the station.
Space Entry highlights that “Minna no Haro” will achieve several world firsts: it will be the first private enterprise autonomous robot on the Kibō module, the first space robot to operate on the Zephyr OS, and the first with conversational capabilities.
To finance the ambitious “Hello, Haro” project, Space Entry will launch a crowdfunding campaign on April 14 through the Campfire platform, seeking to raise 3 million yen (approximately US$19,000). This venture continues a trend of anime connections to space exploration, including past Gundam satellite missions and other fan-backed projects.
