1st humanoid heads to space  Photo by Nate McCullough  Photo by
Nate McCullough  CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Space is about to get
its first humanoid from planet Earth.  Robonaut 2 --
affectionately known as R2 -- is hitching a one-way ride to the
International Space Station this week aboard the final flight of
space shuttle Discovery.  It's the first humanoid robot ever
bound for space, a $2.5 million mechanical and electrical marvel
that NASA hopes one day will assist flesh-and-bone astronauts in
orbit.  Imagine, its creators say, a future where Robonaut could
take over space station cleaning duties; spend hours outside in
the extreme heat and cold, patiently holding tools for
spacewalking astronauts; and handle emergencies like toxic leaks
or fires.  Why, Robonaut's descendants could even scout out
asteroids, Mars and other worlds in the decades ahead, paving
the way for humans.  The adventure begins Wednesday afternoon,
with the planned final launch of Discovery and Robonaut's six
human crewmates. Mission man