There is a real R2, and he's about to do his first trip into space!

On launch eve, NASA marks 10 yrs at space station

NASA celebrated 10 years of continuous human presence at the International Space Station on Tuesday while readying shuttle Discovery for one last trip into orbit.
Liftoff is set for Wednesday afternoon.
Discovery is bound for the space station, currently home to six U.S. astronauts and Russian cosmonauts who fielded calls of congratulations on this special anniversary.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Space is about to get its first humanoid from planet Earth. Robonaut 2 - affectionately known as R2 - is hitching a one-way ride to the International Space Station this week aboard the final flight of space shuttle Discovery.
It's the first humanoid robot ever bound for space, a $2.5 million mechanical and electrical marvel that NASA hopes one day will assist flesh-and-bone astronauts in orbit.
Imagine, its creators say, a future where Robonaut could take over space station cleaning duties; spend hours outside in the extreme heat and cold, patiently holding tools for spacewalking astronauts; and handle emergencies like toxic leaks or fires.
Why, Robonaut's descendants could even scout out asteroids, Mars and other worlds in the decades ahead, paving the way for humans.
The adventure begins Wednesday afternoon, with the planned final launch of Discovery and Robonaut's six human crewmates. Mission managers gave the green light Monday for the new launch date; shuttle gas leaks had to be repaired before the countdown could begin and forced a two-day delay.

NASA, Robert Markowitz

AP Photo - This July 28, 2009 picture provided by NASA shows two Robonaut 2 robots in Houston. Robonaut 2 is hitching a one-way ride to the International Space Station on the final flight of the space shuttle Discovery scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2010. NASA hopes one day they will assist flesh-and-bone astronauts in orbit.

NASA, Lauren Harnett

AP Photo - In this Aug. 4, 2010 picture provided by NASA, NASA astronaut Michael Barratt, STS-133 mission specialist, shakes hands with Robonaut 2 during a news conference in the Space Vehicle Mock-up Facility at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. Ron Diftler, NASA Robonaut project manager, is at left. Robonaut 2 is hitching a one-way ride to the International Space Station on the final flight of the space shuttle Discovery scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2010. NASA hopes one day the will assist flesh-and-bone astronauts in orbit.

"While it might be just a single step for this robot, it's really a giant leap forward for tinmankind," said Rob Ambrose, acting chief of Johnson Space Center's automation, robotics and simulation division in Houston.

For now, R2 - a collaboration between NASA and General Motors - exists only from the waist up. It measures 3 feet 4 inches tall and weighs 330 pounds. Each arm is 2 feet 8 inches long.
Legs are still in the works. But, oh, what an upper body: perfectly toned arms and hands with palms, a robotic rarity, along with broad shoulders and a washboard stomach. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Hollywood's cyborg Terminator, would be proud.

Read more: http://www.fresnobee.com/2010/11/01/2141400/robots-space-debut-giant-leap.html#ixzz14W5uVt7l