Robonaut 2 became the first humanoid robot approved to live aboard the International Space Station. NASA and General Motors developed the machine as a technology demonstrator for future human-robot cooperation in space.
Often called R2, Robonaut 2 launched aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery in February 2011 and was delivered to the station during mission STS-133. Its upper body had a human-like torso, head, arms, and hands, while its lower body was initially absent. The robot was intended to test whether dexterous machines could use tools and perform repetitive tasks alongside astronauts.
R2 was not the first robot to reach the ISS, since many robotic spacecraft and station systems had done so earlier. Its distinction was being a humanoid research robot operating inside the station. NASA returned it to Earth in 2018 after technical problems limited its usefulness.