Robonaut Unpacked, Finally!

[CalMeacham]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110316/ap_on_sc/us_space_robot

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The first humanoid robot ever launched into space is finally free.

Astronauts at the International Space Station unpacked Robonaut on Tuesday, 2 1/2 weeks after its arrival via shuttle Discovery. NASA broadcast the humorous unveiling ceremony Wednesday.

American Catherine Coleman and Italian Paolo Nespoli pried off the lid of the robot’s packing box, as though they were opening a coffin. TV cameras showed lots of foam inside, but no robot.

“It’s like unearthing a mummy,” radioed a payload controller at Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala.

“Well, at least the mummy would be here,” Coleman replied. “We just have an empty box where Robonaut is supposed to be.”

Robonaut — also known as R2 — was spotted a minute later in front of a work station.

“I’d like to introduce you to the newest member of our crew,” Coleman said. “We’re going to see what Robonaut can do.”

The payload controller asked if R2 was related to HAL, the sinister computer with artificial intelligence from the 1968 film “2001: A Space Odyssey.”

“Since we found him already controlling the space station, we’re sure that he is related to HAL. But we’ll see,” Coleman said.

In a Twitter update, R2 announced: “Check me out. I’m in space!” A NASA employee on the ground posted the tweet.

Did they have to make him look like Boba Fett?

- YouTube

[EvilTOJ]

Look, it was Boba Fett or it be made to look like one of the Daft Punk guys.

[Derleth]

It’s a safety feature: The humans are no good to him dead.