At NASA's Kennedy Space Center shows media the capabilities of a dexterous humanoid astronaut helper.

At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Ron Diftler, NASA's Robonaut 2 (R2) project manager, shows media the capabilities of a dexterous humanoid astronaut helper. R2 will be delivered to the International Space Station on space shuttle Discovery's STS-133 mission. Although R2 will initially only participate in operational tests, upgrades could eventually allow the robot to realize its true purpose -- helping spacewalking astronauts with tasks outside the orbiting laboratory.

For more information on the upcoming STS-133 mission, visit www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts133/. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller