Spacewalking robot, sends tweets

Robonaut 2 (R2), who hitched a ride with the space shuttle Discovery crewmembers, is the first humanoid robot to travel to space and the first US-built robot to visit the International Space Station. (Photo: NASA)

R2 will initially participate in operational tests only. If things go according to plan it will be upgraded to assist spacewalking astronauts with tasks outside the space station. (Photo: NASA)

R2 will stay on the space station indefinitely to allow engineers on the ground to learn more about how humanoid robots fair in space. (Photo: NASA)

NASA and General Motors came together to develop the next generation dexterous humanoid robot. The robots – called Robonaut 2 – were designed to use the same tools as humans, which allows them to work safely side-by-side humans on Earth and in space. (Photo: NASA)

Robonaut 2 easily surpasses previous dexterous humanoid robots in strength, yet it is safe enough to work side-by-side with humans. It is able to lift, more than 20-pounds (about four times heavier than what other dexterous robots can handle) both near and away from its body. (Photo: NASA)

You can now follow R2 on Twitter at www.twitter.com/AstroRobonaut. With the help of its team, the robot sent its first tweet on July 26. (Photo: NASA)

Robonaut 2's arms are disassembled to prepare the robot for electronics upgrades. R2 was designed as a prototype; some changes were necessary to prepare it for life on the International Space Station. (Photo: NASA)

Engineers at NASA's Johnson Space Center test software upgrades on Robonaut 2. (Photo: NASA)

NASA astronaut Steve Lindsey, commander of Discovery mission, speaks to members of the media and NASA personnel during Robonaut 2 media day in the Space Vehicle Mock-up Facility at NASA's Johnson Space Center. (Photo: NASA)

Robonaut 2 poses atop its new-wheeled base, Centaur 2, at the Johnson Space Center Planetary Analog Test Site. The Centaur is basically a rover for astronauts and in time a humanoid robot could maneuver it helping in explorations of distant planets. (Photo: NASA)

R2 salutes (Photo: NASA)