Space Station electrical power flowed through Robonaut 2 for the first time. During Monday's power up, the legless R2 was mounted on a stanchion on a wall in the space station's Destiny lab. Photo Credit/NASA-TV and Twitter
Astronauts aboard the International Space Station powered up Robonaut 2 for the first time on Monday, though the legless humanoid was not permitted to move head and arms during the two hour exercise.
“First motion” is likely several weeks away, the humanoid tweeted as Monday’s two hour “power soak” drew to a close. Engineers from NASA monitored the flow of electricity and the thermal response within the robot during the test.
Robonaut 2 arrived at the orbiting science laboratory as a permanent crew member in February aboard the shuttle Discovery. He was packed away in the station’s U. S. Destiny lab, while shuttle crews finished the lengthy assembly and outfitting of the orbital outpost.
President Obama was among those who followed Robonaut 2’s journey into orbit.
“Everyone has been waiting with great anticipation Robonaut’s coming out,” station astronaut Mike Fossum told NASA’s Mission Control just before Monday’s test began.
“He has been groveling in his storage location here in the lab,” said Fossum, who teamed Monday with Japanese astronaut Satoshi Furukawa. “He’s complained bitterly that he wants to get out and get to work. Well, today is finally the day.”
Robonaut 2, who has Facebook and Twitter followings, offered frequent updates on the test.
“Overall a good test,” R2 tweeted at the close. “Sure wish I could move my head and look around.”
NASA’s Payload Operations Center at the Marshall Space Flight Center watched over R2’s activities.
“We hear a few fans humming and the lights on,” said Fossum, as Marshall monitored.
NASA engineers initiated their work with Robonaut in 1997. R1 was envisioned then as an assistant to astronauts exploring lunar and Martian terrains.
Robonaut 2 emerges from a packing crate with the help of NASA astronaut Catherine Coleman earlier this year. Photo Credit/NASA TV
In 2007, General Motors offered new resources and entered into a collaboration with NASA through a Space Act Agreement. The team members want to know whether humans and robots can work safely together in close quarters — whether it is aboard a spacecraft or within a production facility.
Ultimately, NASA plans for R2 to participate in space station spacewalks — perhaps setting up a worksite for a busy astronaut.
However, the goals of initial testing within the station are less ambitious.
R2 will dabble with a task board practicing hand intensive tasks. As he becomes more adept in space, R2 will gain legs and new software that would able the robot to take on maintenance duties — like the frequent cleaning of air filters.