It’s Alive! Humanoid Robot Awakens in Space
- Posted on August 23, 2011 at 12:00am by
Liz Klimas
- Print »
- Email »
NASA’s humanoid robot, which was launched into space in February, has finally awakened . . . and it’s tweeting.
According to Discovery News, the Robonaut (R2) — the first humanoid robot in space — tweeted “My power cable is plugged in and my status LEDs on my power backpack are on.”:
“Around 56 minutes left in my power soak test,” it added an hour later.
But Robonaut is responding to questions and even sent birthday greetings to one of its 35,000 followers.
R2 was powered on Monday for the first time aboard the International Space Station. It took this long for the operating software to get up there, and for the astronauts to have enough time to help with the experiment. R2 is being tested as a helper to astronauts.
Monday‘s test involved sending power to all of Robonaut’s systems. The robot will make its first physical motion from space early next week.
But you can see its prototype move here now:
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
(Photos: NASA Flickr/Joe Bibby)
Popular Stories
Does Misstated Marathon Claim Prove Paul Ryan Is Dishonest? (POLL) 700 Comments
Paper Details Obama Admin’s Alleged Secret Note Sent to Iran: If Israel Attacks, We Won’t Get Involved 530 Comments
‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 358 Comments
Roseanne Barr: Most Billionaires ‘Violent Pedophiles’ & ‘Heartless’ Cocaine Addicts 356 Comments
This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 347 Comments
Faith
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 347 Comments
Pakistani Muslim Cleric Accused of Framing Disabled Christian Girl in Koran-Burning Case Read More- ‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 358 Comments
Meet the Controversial German Imam Accused of Brutally Beating His Wife & Pushing Sharia Law Read More
‘Self-Proclaimed Messiah’ & Unification Church Leader the Rev. Sun Myung Moon Has Died — Here’s His Life Story Read More
Business
- President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 272 Comments
- Germany’s Upcoming Court Ruling Will be Huge for the EU Read More
Ford Looks to Beat Toyota for Best-Selling Car in 2012 With This Model 148 Comments
Bernanke & QE3: Here’s What You Need to Know Read More- ‘Extortion’: Why Did the Labor Department ‘Drop the Hammer’ on Oregon Farmers? 302 Comments
Technology
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 347 Comments
‘TaserDrone’: Hackers Weaponize Quadcopter With Actual ‘Shocking’ Technology Read More
Ever Heard of the Wild ‘Burning Man’ Festival in the Middle of the Nev. Desert? Here’s Your Primer Read More
Stanford Develops Technology ‘Better Than Steroids’ for Athlete Recovery Read More
Have You Pretended to Know What ‘the Cloud’ Is? You’re Not Alone Read More
Submitting your tip... please wait!
Comments (57)
GIDEON612
Posted on August 23, 2011 at 8:53amThese will be used, and claim to save money, to reach the moon. That is because man cannot survive the radiation belt that is around this planet. Why do you think the shuttles and space station are in orbit?
Report Post »That robot needs to be in management in GM and not in space. Hopefully it would be the only honest ceo they could get in there.
This is just wrong. GM needs to concentrating on building a car that will last and people want so they can pay back their loans.
Secret Squirrel
Posted on August 23, 2011 at 9:04am.
Report Post »New Obama voter.
He registered in Chicago.
13th Imam
Posted on August 23, 2011 at 9:40amHe just tweeted
“ I stand with Israel”
Wait here comes another, from Barry.
We regret to inform the public that a malfunction has occurred and R2 has been deemed a possible “TEA Party Member” and silenced. Joe “Bite Me” has been put in charge of the reeducation of R2.
Report Post »westy98530
Posted on August 23, 2011 at 2:44pmUm. The people that went through the belts to get to the moon already are still alive and kicking.
And we’re in orbit because the farther you go, the more expensive it gets.
Report Post »starznbarz
Posted on August 23, 2011 at 8:02amWe were at the press area for that launch and saw that “robot” – we thought it was just some reporter from Key West…….. or maybe the new ‘robot czar” ……… wait, wait, I know, that`s the launch Obama attended – he was in disguise because NASA had just laid off 3000 workers the week before and he thought a robot would be more popular…. actually, the workers made their thoughts known at that launch – they placed handwritten yard signs all along SR 3(the road to the press area gate) spelling out what they were thinking – we photographed one of the signs,(we brought one home) see the “Space Shuttle” gallery on our site – unfortunately, Obama flew in and out by chopper and never saw them.(as if he would care) http://www.starznbarz.com
Report Post »HowardSternIsABigot
Posted on August 23, 2011 at 7:45amKlaatu barada nikto
Report Post »UlyssesP
Posted on August 23, 2011 at 7:54amThe remake sucked.
Report Post »woodyl1011fl
Posted on August 23, 2011 at 8:18amThe remake is an envirowacko propaganda piece and it was bad. Hollywood is doing the same with a movie on Margaret Thatcher no wonder there in the tank along with their LSM media buddies. Even Pixar blew it with Cars2 hard to find anything not tainted anymore.
Report Post »ChariotDriver
Posted on August 23, 2011 at 6:56amGM was smart enough to realize they need NASA Robotic technology so they sent a team of engineers to work with and LEARN from NASA how to produce world class humanoids. The original ROBONAUT was designed about 10 years ago.
Report Post »tom
Posted on August 23, 2011 at 6:54amLet’s come back to earth:
U.S.Today:
America has grown dramatically in population over the last two decades, but has radically changed ethnically, geographically, and culturally. The most costly of the many changes is the fact that having children has become increasingly detached from marriage.
Illegitimate births for all Americans have risen from 26 percent in 1990 to 41 percent today “and could be headed higher.” Among Hispanics, illegitimacy is 53 percent, among blacks it’s 73 percent, and among whites it has risen to a shocking 29 percent.
This extraordinary change is the primary reason that government budgets, both federal and state, are so bloated. Without fathers to provide for these millions of children, their mothers turn to Big Brother Government.
My opinion, simply add Obama’s ideology that includes abortion, homosexuality, Sharia law, and Marxism and we will be at the gates of hell or maybe we’re already there! Carter was bad, but Obama is EVIL! If you support this evil, you’re evil. Vote him out in 2012.
Report Post »anotherGlen
Posted on August 23, 2011 at 10:34amEverything that Obama does is in direct correlation to Marxist, that is Communist, doctrine. If you read the Communist Manifesto, the State is responsible for all children, freeing the parents up to explore their greater good and give their all to the state. So, this fits into their overall plan, and will continue until it is stopped. Think about it, no expense to have a baby, Food Stamps,free housing, free breakfast, lunch and in some cases dinner at schools, free day care, free primary education, basically free college, onto your government job. Now who is the parent?
Report Post »Reavin
Posted on August 23, 2011 at 10:44amHow did a story about a robot put on the ISS turn into a rant about illegitimate births and the evil of Obama?
Report Post »SamIamTwo
Posted on August 23, 2011 at 6:44amHAL 9000, eh?
Report Post »Armed Patriot
Posted on August 23, 2011 at 7:25amWhat didnt these guys watch Terminator. This is Skynet at its beginning.
Report Post »mkozicki
Posted on August 23, 2011 at 9:11amNo this is a Cylon. Looks nothing like Tricia Helfer.
Report Post »Bill666
Posted on August 23, 2011 at 6:06ami DETEST GOVERNMENT MOTORS AND CHRYSLER, too bad a decent company such as FORD could not have done this project. NASA has been off target from day one. Until science can find a way to match or exceed the speed of light AND produce artificial gravity aboard space vehicles robots always have been and will be the way to go. Human space travel is a waste of money and and has been an expensive entertainment. But.. what does our government do other than waste money?
Report Post »The Third Archon
Posted on August 23, 2011 at 6:55am“produce artificial gravity aboard space vehicles ”
Report Post »We actually CAN do that–it’s called “spinning.”
hillbillyinny
Posted on August 23, 2011 at 7:39amFORD has been focused on what it does best, making cars, tractors, and other vehicular devices, keeping their books correctly, charging fairly for work done, paying employees adequately, and keeping their nose clean. They haven’t been in bed with “the government and their unions” like GM, Chrysler, GE and so many others. FORD and other true U.S. of America companies are surviving and even thriving without handouts and constant special consideration!
Report Post »The Third Archon
Posted on August 23, 2011 at 5:52am“ communist company”
Report Post »You really have no idea what communism is do you?
scott2012
Posted on August 23, 2011 at 5:11amCrush!-Kill!-Destroy!!!
Report Post »ThoughtfulConservative
Posted on August 23, 2011 at 7:21amhah!
Report Post »lylejk
Posted on August 23, 2011 at 2:35amI remember talk about a robonaut like over a decade ago. Cool that it’s come to fruition and I hope it will be able to do the mundane (and dangerous) tasks that would normally have to be done by the space station crew. Kudos to NASA. :)
Report Post »Al J Zira
Posted on August 23, 2011 at 1:36amGM can’t sell the Volt here on earth so why not put them in space?
Report Post »Av8tor056
Posted on August 23, 2011 at 1:27amI wonder if it can make toast? Here come the Cylons…
Report Post »Ranubis
Posted on August 23, 2011 at 3:30am“Frackin Toasters!”
Report Post »Kara “Starbuck” Thrace
Russman
Posted on August 23, 2011 at 5:05pmRanubus….FRACK!, You beat me to it
Report Post »“What do you hear Starbuck?”
“Nuthin’ but the rain Sir… Nuthin’ but the rain”
Cold War Vet
Posted on August 23, 2011 at 1:26amI don’t trust GM products on the ground. There‘s no way I’d trust them in space.
Report Post »Besides, I refuse to give my business to a tax-stealing communist company like GM, that relies on labor by troublemaker communist UAW thugs
KickinBack
Posted on August 23, 2011 at 1:22amWhat about 3PO?
Report Post »Bill666
Posted on August 23, 2011 at 5:51amThats 3CPO
Report Post »loriann12
Posted on August 23, 2011 at 7:28amNo, that’s C3PO….don’t you watch Star Wars?
Report Post »bassist237
Posted on August 23, 2011 at 10:18amHAHAH!!! I had my laugh for the day, thank you for this little string of happiness :)
Report Post »Tim Law
Posted on August 23, 2011 at 12:59amCan’t afford the shuttle program, but we can spend billions to send the Russian’s a new toy. More wasted tax $$$$$$$$$$$$
Report Post »Bill666
Posted on August 23, 2011 at 6:07amWhat did you expect from two government entities?
Report Post »SavingtheRepublic.com
Posted on August 23, 2011 at 12:56amCyberdyne Systems Model T-00R2
Report Post »Diane TX
Posted on August 23, 2011 at 12:51amI’m not looking forward to some crazies wanting “civil rights” for robots in the future. Can we decide now that they are machines?
Report Post »RationalMan
Posted on August 23, 2011 at 12:45amthe Robonaut (R2) — the first humanoid robot in space — tweeted …
***This is going to be one bad a** Robot, since he doesn’t have a female by his side! LOL
Report Post »Diane TX
Posted on August 23, 2011 at 1:00amI’ve have news for you. There’s no such as a male or female machine. The inventors are pretending that “he” is a male, but “he” is not.
Report Post »Cold War Vet
Posted on August 23, 2011 at 12:37amGreat. It’s got some GM in it. Look for the (Soviet) Union Labor! Built in the good old USSA!
Report Post »I bet it runs like the old Vegas and Monzas. Any of you remember those automotive abominations?
A more modern comparison would be a Chevy Cavalier. Quite the POS. And who can ever forget the GM/Chevy/Obama Volt? The Electric car that wasn’t really electric. The $41,000 golf cart nobody wants, except maybe a few Al Gore followers. The car that was way over budget, took an entire congress and and hundreds of billions in bailouts to screw up.
El Pistoffo
Posted on August 23, 2011 at 4:08amThe Chevy Cavalier.
Don’t forget his pimped out, phony brother-the Cadillac Cimmero
Report Post ». POS in disguise.
JP4JOY
Posted on August 23, 2011 at 12:30amHMMN Just wondering if this will be as good as the “paperless society” was promised to be. It is wearing a GM logo.
Report Post »RepubliCorp
Posted on August 23, 2011 at 12:30amThis is good news……we can get rid most of the union thugs is the near future
Report Post »capitalismrocks
Posted on August 23, 2011 at 12:25amIts GM, its made out of old surplus AC Delco parts! ;-)
Report Post »Sgt.Murph
Posted on August 23, 2011 at 12:23amGovernment Motors!!!!!! Give me a break!!!!!!
Report Post »SacredHonor1776
Posted on August 23, 2011 at 12:06amI can’t let you do that Dave!
Report Post »N37BU6
Posted on August 23, 2011 at 12:06amAnd not a single Mac in view… take that, Mac douchebags.
Report Post »