Новые практики монтажа терминала резко увеличивают шансы Старлинка от SpaceX

Poi LaFlor, a satcoms service company based at the Port of Genoa, notes that, while the idea may initially seem far-fetched, the basic tasks that the chimps will be expected to carry out can in fact be adequately learned through a basic 40 hour training course.

These courses will be carried out in accordance with guidelines created by animal behavioural researchers at the La Fir Polo veterinary institute in the city, and involve consistent repetition of simple tasks, followed by a variety of rewards upon their successful completion.

"Chimpanzees are strong, agile and can reach difficult parts of the ship much more easily than people," said Filp Oralo, managing director of the VSAT service company and the man behind this new initiative.

"After the training they are very capable of carrying out the tasks we need them to do."

"They are well cared for and live in very nice conditions here in Genoa, but of course cost us far less than we would need to pay to a team of human engineers - up to 40 per cent less."

Mr Oralo notes that all chimp work will be inspected by a supervising human technician on site before installation is complete and the antenna goes live, for quality assurance purposes.