R2-D2/Legends

"For a mechanic you seem to do an excessive amount of thinking."

- C-3PO

R2-D2, pronounced "Artoo-Detoo" (also known as R2 for short; pronounced "Artoo"), was an astromech droid, the most famous unit of the R2 series, and long time friend of Protocol droid C-3PO. Along with his resourcefulness, R2 had many tool-tipped appendages that allowed him to be a great starship mechanic and computer interface specialist. A bold droid, R2 would often enter dangerous situations without second thought. This adventurous streak saved the day on numerous occasions, often turning the tide of galactic history.

Description
"Don't you call me a mindless philosopher, you overweight glob of grease!"

- C-3PO to R2-D2



R2-D2 was a diminutive droid, standing 0.96 meters tall. He rolled on two legs (three if one were to include his retractable third 'foot') and had a silver and blue domed head. His white, blue, and silver body housed many arms, sensors, and other apparatus, many of which were not readily seen by the typical humanoid eye. This often made the droid seem like a sort of 'box of tricks,' unexpectedly pulling out some previously unseen but much needed device at a critical moment.

While R2-D2 contained many specialized gadgets, he was also quite good at taking the initiative and often employed unorthodox means to help his friends. This may be partly due to the fact that&mdash;as far as is known&mdash;he never underwent a memory wipe, thus increasing his capacity for creative thought and adding to his personality.

Known features

 * Booster rockets


 * Cable gun


 * Oil injector


 * Claw arm


 * Fusion welder


 * Holoprojector


 * Periscope


 * Electric pike


 * Propeller


 * Hidden lightsaber compartment with ejector


 * Fire Extinguisher


 * Small Saw


 * Air Cannon


 * Crashmat


 * Lariat


 * Submarine Mode


 * Collapsible Umbrella


 * Flea Remover


 * Distracter


 * Headdress Detangler


 * Droid Deactivator


 * Computer Interface Arm


 * Charge Arm


 * Life-form Scanner


 * Smoke Screen


 * Breakdance Mode


 * Instant coffee maker


 * Polarity sink

Blockade of Naboo
"An extremely well-put-together little droid, Your Highness. Without a doubt, it saved the ship, as well as our lives."

- Captain Panaka to Queen Amidala



At the time of the Blockade of Naboo (32 BBY), R2-D2 was in the possession of the Royal Engineers of Naboo. The Royal Engineers were famous for their after-market additions to their R2 units, making them some of the most sought after units in the Galaxy. He was commended for playing an important role in the escape of Queen Amidala from the occupied planet, making vital repairs after the queen's starship suffered damage from a Trade Federation battleship. Though the ship's hyperdrive had been damaged, the ship managed to safely make its way to Tatooine for repairs. Artoo accompanied Qui-Gon Jinn, Padmé and Jar Jar Binks into Mos Espa to look for supplies. It was here that he met C-3PO, his eventual counterpart, and Anakin Skywalker. He helped to make repairs and final adjustments to Anakin's podracer before the Boonta Eve Classic, a race that, when Skywalker won, allowed the group to leave Tatooine. After a brief trip to Coruscant, the group made its way back to Naboo.

"Anakin, turn the ship around and go back home right away." "Go back? Qui-Gon told me to stay in this cockpit, so that's what I'm gonna do."

- R2-D2 and Anakin Skywalker while flying into orbit

Artoo displayed the hologram of Theed Royal Palace as the team was briefed by Padmé in preparation to infiltrate the capital city and reclaim the planet. Once the battle started, the little droid accidentally boarded the very same N-1 starfighter that Anakin chose to hide in. The pair thus ended up flying into orbit together and destroying the Trade Federation's Droid Control Ship at the Battle of Naboo.

He was present during the celebrations that ensued, where Queen Amidala and Boss Nass celebrated the unification of their cultures.

Post-Battle of Naboo
Not long after the Battle of Naboo, R2-D2, along with Obi-Wan Kenobi, Padmé Amidala, and Jar Jar Binks, participated in the Gungan colonization of Ohma-D'un.

Clone Wars
"Don't worry. We have R2 with us."

- Anakin Skywalker to Padmé Amidala as the pair secretly leave Coruscant



Ten years after the Battle of Naboo, near the outbreak of the Clone Wars (22 BBY), R2-D2 was still in the possession of the Naboo, serving the now-Senator Padmé Amidala. After Padmé's life was threatened by assassins on Coruscant's Naboo Embassy landing platform, he was assigned to help guard her against further attacks, being stationed in her Coruscant bedroom as she slept. Turning off the cameras, Amidala put her safety in the hands of Artoo. Unfortunately, the poisonous kouhuns used by assassin Zam Wesell were able to penetrate the chamber without alerting Artoo's sensors, though luckily the Jedi that were assigned to protect Amidala sensed the danger in time. After this assassination attempt, Artoo accompanied Anakin and Padmé to Naboo on a freighter, and then to Tatooine. There, he was reunited with C-3PO, and the two accompanied Anakin and Padmé to Geonosis in an attempt to rescue Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Once on Geonosis, Artoo ignored the cautions and complaints of Threepio and followed Anakin and Padmé into a droid factory where all four were caught up in a chase involving Geonosian guards. After 'accidentally' pushing Threepio off a ledge, Artoo used his booster rockets to come to Padmé's rescue. Artoo managed to avoid capture and entered the Geonosian Arena during the massive battle between the Jedi and the Confederate army. He came to Threepio's aid, placing the protocol droid's head back on to the correct body.

After the Battle of Geonosis, R2-D2 was present with C-3PO at the wedding of Anakin Skywalker and Padmé Amidala, and was one of the few who knew of their secret relationship.

During the Clone Wars, Artoo and Threepio accompanied Padmé, Jedi Master Yoda and Captain Typho to Ilum, to rescue Jedi Master Luminara Unduli and her Padawan Barriss Offee. When Padmé disobeyed Yoda's orders to remain on the ship, believing the Jedi to be in danger, Artoo and Threepio accompanied her. Artoo used his sensors to alert Padmé of a droid assault, and later uncovered Count Dooku's involvement in attacking the Jedi Temple.

Just after Anakin was elevated to the rank of Jedi Knight Padmé presented R2 to Anakin as her devotion-gift to her husband. When Anakin reminded her that the Jedi were not allowed to own anything, she replied "I'm asking you to look after him. He’s not really a gift. He's a friend." For the remainder of the Clone Wars, whenever Anakin flew into battle, R2 was right beside him.

"You got him, Artoo!"

- Anakin Skywalker during the Battle of Coruscant



R2 served Anakin as his astromech in the Battle of Coruscant, where he played a role in the rescue of Chancellor Palpatine. He almost single-handedly destroyed a buzz droid,and, on the Invisible Hand, Artoo was responsible for operating the elevators, allowing Anakin and Obi-Wan to reach the quarters of General Grievous, where the Supreme Chancellor was being held captive. After cleverly defeating a pair of pushy super battle droids by squirting them with oil and then igniting it with his jet boosters, as well as avoiding being crushed by the Jedi's starfighters when the command ship lost gravitational control, Artoo was captured along with the Jedi and the Chancellor. However, by creating a distraction, he provided the two Jedi a means by which they could retrieve their lightsabers and take over the ship's cockpit. Artoo then helped Anakin crash-land the ship safely.



What followed was a brief respite, wherein Artoo was witness to a number of conversations between Padmé, Anakin and Obi-Wan, all of which he recorded and were eventually seen by Anakin and Padmé's offspring, Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa during the Swarm War. Recordings, in which Artoo tried to hide as he claimed he was trying to protect them.

Once Anakin crossed over to the dark side of the Force, becoming the apprentice of the Sith Lord Darth Sidious, Artoo tried unsuccessfully to inform C-3PO of Anakin's involvement in the siege of the Jedi Temple. However, the protocol droid chose instead to listen to the conversation between Anakin and Padmé, and Artoo was very soon on his way with the reformed Anakin to Mustafar. Told to stay with the Jedi Interceptor, Artoo did not witness Anakin's slaughter of the Separatist Council but met Threepio at the landing platform on which Padmé had landed her Naboo Skiff. As Obi-Wan fought with Anakin above the lava banks of Mustafar, Artoo helped Threepio to move a fallen Padmé into the ship, and try to stabilize her condition. Once Obi-Wan had returned, piloting the ship to Polis Massa, Artoo witnessed the births of Luke and Leia as well as the tragic death of Padmé on the operating table. Without masters, both R2-D2 and C-3PO came into the possession of Padmé's colleague Bail Organa. Organa then handed them over to the charge Captain Raymus Antilles for service on the Tantive IV. Organa ordered that C-3PO's memory be wiped, but, for an unknown reason, allowed for Artoo's memory to be maintained. Perhaps Senator Organa felt that it would be impossible for Artoo to communicate any of his information, or maybe even doubted the amount of information an astromech droid could possibly have regarding Anakin and Padmé Skywalker. Whatever his motives or beliefs, Organa's decision paved the way for Luke and Leia's eventual discovery of their mother's identity.

Early Imperial Era


R2-D2's servitude on the Tantive IV did not last long, though. Chief Petty Officer Corla Metonae supervised a drill involving the launching of the ship's escape pods. During the exercise, the Tantive IV was attacked by a pirate group from the Karthakk system, and forced to flee without recovering its jettisoned pods. It was soon discovered that R2-D2 and C-3PO were aboard one of the abandoned pods. Bail Organa placed high priority on retrieving the droids.

Following this alarming event, R2-D2 and his counterpart C-3PO began being traded around by various owners. During this time, many of R2-D2’s peripherals were removed and replaced with miscellaneous accessories such as laser pointers and underwater propellers. They found themselves traveling the galaxy serving a series of different masters, such as Ambassador Zell of Majoor. One owner, a glitterstim smuggler, left the droids on Ingo. It was there that they were owned by Thall Joben and Jord Dusat. This got them involved in a speeder race against none other than bounty hunter Boba Fett. After that, the two helped Jann Tosh and Mon Julpa restore the Tammuz-an monarchy. Later, Tosh, on his way to enroll in the Imperial Academy, left the droids on Manda. It was there that they got jobs at a hotel. From there they went to Biitu and were involved with the Great Heep. Mungo Baobab saved them from the Heep and took the droids back to Manda. Later, on Roon, Baobab found some Roonstones which C-3PO told him were etched with the ancient poem Dha Werda Verda. But when the droids went with Mungo to the Baobab Archives, they were separated from him and sold to a used technological goods trafficker.

When another owner, Governor Wena, put the droids up for auction, they ended up going to Hosk Station. Between there and Kalarba, the droids had a number of adventures with Nak Pitareeze and his family, Olag Greck, and Jace Forno. R2-D2 and C-3PO later went with a police droid named Unit Zed to Nar Shaddaa, where Jace Forno blasted off Threepio's left leg below the knee. However, the replacement leg that he got actually contained secret programming that overrode his regular personality. The "new" C-3PO led a droid rebellion against Boonda the Hutt. However, his original programming was later restored when R2-D2 replaced his "possessed" leg. After that, the two droids were owned by an Ithorian botanist named Zorneth and then a diplomat, Councelor Harthan.

Some other masters of the droids during this time included Stigrit Krax, Larka Nimondro, Lott Kemp, Jost Ellon, Vik Idd and Nikki Idd, King Gokus, Van P. Quist, Prince Jagoda, and Tyne. After all their many adventures, the droids finally returned to the Tantive IV. Serving the Rebel Alliance, the droids deactivated an Imperial defense system during the Battle of Wayland, allowing the Alliance Fleet to land on Fresia.

Galactic Civil War
"Artoo, why do you have to be so brave?"

- C-3PO during the Battle of Endor



In 0 BBY, both R2-D2 and C-3PO were back aboard the Tantive IV, which was on a secret mission to obtain the plans for a new battle station, the Death Star, when it came under attack by Devastator, Darth Vader's Star Destroyer. Leia Organa, then the owner of Tantive IV (having been given it by her adopted father), stored the Death Star plans in R2-D2 and recorded a distress message on him. R2 then jettisoned in an escape pod, along with a confused C-3PO, on a new mission to find Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Once the escape pod had landed on Tatooine, Artoo and Threepio were captured by Jawas and then purchased by Owen Lars and fitted with a Restraining bolt. While cleaning the droids for his uncle, Artoo played a portion of princess Leia's secret message for Luke Skywalker to convince him to remove the Restraining bolt the droid had been fitted with earlier. He told his uncle, who ordered that their memories be wiped. Before this could be done, Artoo escaped into the desert to seek out Obi-Wan. He was followed by Luke and Threepio, who managed to catch up with him but were then attacked by Tusken Raiders. Artoo hid in a small cave as Obi-Wan 'Ben' Kenobi came to Threepio and Luke's rescue. Once in Obi-Wan's small hut, Artoo was finally able to play Leia's message to the correct recipient. Obi-Wan decided to follow her orders and take Artoo to Alderaan. After coping with the deaths of Luke's aunt and uncle, the group found transport in Mos Eisley; a young smuggler named Han Solo agreed to transport them to Alderaan in his ship, the Millennium Falcon. When they arrived where Alderaan should have been, it was no longer there, having been blown away by the Death Star.

The Millennium Falcon was then captured by the Death Star, which was still in the system. Evading stormtrooper inspections of the ship, this allowed the group the chance to rescue the Alderaanian Princess Leia Organa. As the Wookiee Chewbacca and the three Humans went searching for the Princess' cell and the tractor beam controls, R2-D2 and C-3PO took position in a communications room. Once discovered, the pair pretended to be Imperial droids, and managed to communicate with the group in time for R2-D2 to rescue them from a trash compactor. After escaping from the Death Star, Artoo was finally delivered to the Rebel Alliance on Yavin 4, bringing the Death Star plans with him and allowing the Alliance to defend themselves against the battle station. R2-D2 then acted as Luke's astromech during the attack on the station. He was severely damaged during the battle, but Rebel mechanics were able to restore him.



Artoo remained in the service of the Heroes of Yavin. When the Rebel Alliance established a temporary base on the icy planet of Hoth, he used his sensors to attempt to locate Luke when he failed to return from a scouting mission. When the Empire attacked Hoth, Artoo was readied in Luke's X-Wing fighter while Luke flew a snowspeeder in the Battle of Hoth. He thus did not board the Millennium Falcon with his usual companion, C-3PO, when it left the planet.

When Luke returned to Echo Base following the destruction of its shield generators, he took Artoo to Dagobah. After Luke's crash-landing in the planet's swamps, R2-D2 became the potential meal of a Dragonsnake when he fell off of the X-Wing's hull. However, the beast found him inedible, and spat him into the jungle. Artoo was present during all of Luke's Jedi training from the Jedi Master Yoda on Dagobah, and was often levitated by Luke along with stones and other inanimate objects. The droid stayed with Luke as he flew to Cloud City. After being separated from his master in the city, he was spotted by Threepio, who was in a disassembled state and tied to Chewbacca's back. When Chewbacca, Leia, Lando and the droids escaped to the Falcon, Artoo helped to repair a heavily damaged C-3PO. He also played a part in the escape from Cloud City, slicing computer systems, providing smoke screen, and fixing Millennium Falcon's hyperdrive at the last minute, facilitating escape from the Empire.

As part of his plan to rescue a carbonite-frozen Han Solo from the clutches of the gangster Jabba the Hutt, Luke sent Artoo and Threepio to Jabba's Palace on Tatooine. After receiving an audience with Jabba, Artoo displayed a holographic image of Skywalker, who greeted the notorious gangster, and offered the droids as gifts to the avaricious Hutt. The news came as a surprise to Threepio, but Artoo had been aware of the impending offer for some time.

The droid EV-9D9 put Artoo to work serving drinks on Jabba's sail barge. He did not see C-3PO again until Jabba brought his court to the Great Pit of Carkoon to witness the execution of his prisoners, Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Chewbacca. Threepio was unaware that Artoo had smuggled Luke's newly constructed lightsaber into the palace, which he launched into the air, allowing Luke to catch it with the aid of the Force. This allowed Luke, Han, and Chewbacca to avoid being fed to the Sarlacc, and stirred up confusion in the sail barge, which in turn allowed Leia to kill the Hutt.

Artoo later joined the Rebel strike team on the forest moon of Endor, where helped to bring down the deflector shield so the fleet could destroy the new Death Star. While on Endor, he befriended the Ewok Wicket W. Warrick. During the Battle of Endor, he was hit by the laser blast of an Imperial stormtrooper, and severely damaged. He was soon repaired, however, and joined in the celebrations that took place that evening in Bright Tree Village.

Post-Galactic Civil War
After the victory at the Battle of Endor, R2-D2 continued to serve the New Republic as Luke Skywalker's droid. He was often separated from Luke, however, whether having adventures with Han, Leia, or others. He continued to serve in Luke's X-Wing well into the New Republic era. In 9 ABY, Artoo flew with Luke during several battles of the Thrawn campaign, and accompanied Luke, Han, Lando, Chewbacca, Threepio, and Mara Jade to Wayland in their quest to destroy the Empire's store of Spaarti cloning cylinders.

During the reborn Emperor Palpatine's campaign one year later, Artoo aided the New Republic on numerous occasions, including the defeat of a World Devastator attack on Mon Calamari and the destruction of the Emperor's remaining two superweapons: the Galaxy Gun and the Eclipse II.

Unknown divider


In 11 ABY, Artoo and Threepio aided Luke in searching for potential Jedi trainees for his New Order. Surfing through a multitude of data, the two found several candidates. Later, R2-D2 and C-3PO accompanied Lando Calrissian to the planet Umgul to search for the hopeful. The trio did not recruit the so-called "Jedi hopeful," due to the revelation that the man was not using Jedi powers to win major blob races but instead cheating his way to victory. R2 and company managed to convince him to reunite with his wife, rather than suffer the death penalty.

A year after Luke's academy was established, Artoo journeyed to the planet Belsavis with Han and Leia. He was influenced by the dark-side adept Irek Ismaren, who had learned the ability of droid-control through the Force. Under Ismaren's influence, Artoo planted explosives in a cupboard of the room where the Solos were staying. This action nearly destroyed the three; however, a well-aimed blaster bolt from Han Solo deactivated the droid. Chewbacca had to repair the damaged droid, which left his systems in a different configuration; this restricted Ismaren from controlling R2 again.

In 13 ABY, Artoo and Threepio were stranded on the planet Nim Drovis. Following many attempts to find passage off the planet, the duo was intercepted by Admiral Daala, who reunited them with Han Solo.

Black Fleet Crisis
Three years later, Artoo and Threepio accompanied Lando Calrissian on a New Republic Intelligence mission to investigate the Teljkon Vagabond, a mysterious vessel that always seemed to disappear into hyperspace when any other ship came too close. Without the permission of the mission's commanding officer, Colonel Pakkpekatt, Lando, his former aide Lobot, and the droids infiltrated the Vagabond, and were able to get onboard. While still on the ship, the mission was scrapped, due to the increasing tensions between the New Republic and the Duskhan League. Pakkpekatt convinced New Republic Admiral Hiram Drayson to allow him and a small crew to follow the Vagabond in Lando's personal Yacht, the Lady Luck. During the entire Black Fleet Crisis, Lando, Lobot, and the droids were aboard the Vagabond, discovering the ship's mysteries. After the ship returned to the planet Brath Qella, Pakkpekatt, with the aid of Luke Skywalker, rescued the four from the ship.

In 17 ABY, during the Kueller crisis, Artoo and Threepio, along with a young mechanic named Cole Fardreamer, independently investigated the source of the recent bombing of the Senate Hall. Trails of clues led them to the planet Telti and its droid-construction facilities, where the Dark Jedi Kueller had been producing droids equipped with remote bombs. The three managed to shut down the facility, which was instrumental in foiling Kueller's plot.

Two years later, during the Caamas Document/Hand of Thrawn crisis, Artoo accompanied Luke to the planet of Nirauan. While Luke and Mara confronted the Empire of the Hand, Artoo managed to download a copy of the elusive Caamas Document from the Hand's computers. With a copy of the document finally in their hands, the New Republic were able to assuage anti-Bothan sentiments throughout the galaxy, and avert a war that the Empire, under Moff Disra's leadership, had been secretly and subtly fueling.

R2-D2 would continue to serve his Master Luke Skywalker at the Jedi Praxeum on Yavin 4. He would accompany Jedi trainees Anakin Solo and Tahiri Veila during their discovery of the Golden Globe in the Palace of the Woolamander. R2-D2 also accompanied them on their trip to Dagobah and would later play a role in the trip to Exis Station and the defeat of Orloc.

Yuuzhan Vong War
During the Battle of Borleias, when Han and Leia were arrested on Aphran for setting up resistance cells, he and C-3P0 staged a daring rescue attempt by showing their weapons right in front of the security droid pretended it was the prisoner's meal, which surprisingly worked.

R2-D2 saw plenty of battles during the war, serving on the Starfighters of both Luke Skywalker and Jaina Solo.

Dark Nest Crisis


In 35 ABY, when Luke was fixing R2, the Jedi encountered a recording of his father and mother discussing a dream of Anakin's, in which his mother had died in childbirth, and another recording of Padmé talking to Obi-Wan Kenobi about Anakin. The recordings, however, were apparently encoded (probably by Alderaanian technicians). R2 himself refused to show Luke or Leia the recordings and insisted he was trying to protect them. The only way to remove the recordings safely was to either find the original designers of the unit, a prototype, or erase R2's memory (an idea only C-3PO seemed to take seriously). Because the recordings hadn't been removed, R2 began to malfunction. By 36 ABY, a year after the first recording was shown, R2 seemed to be functioning again, though he remained unwilling to show the recordings. It wasn't until the Swarm War, when Luke needed to see it to help him in his fight against Lomi Plo, that R2 finally revealed Padmé's death to Luke, as well as his and Leia's birth.

R2 would continue to travel with Luke while he tried to rebuild the Jedi Order, and still belonged to him as of 40 ABY.

Chronological list of owners


The following is a chronological list R2-D2's of owners. When a being's name appears twice, it means that Artoo fell out of their possession, then later returned.


 * Royal House of Naboo
 * Padmé Amidala
 * Anakin Skywalker
 * Captain Raymus Antilles
 * Ambassador Zell of Majoor
 * Zevel Hortine
 * Thall Joben
 * Doodnik
 * Jann Tosh
 * Mungo Baobab
 * Governor Wena of Kalarba
 * Unknown junk dealer
 * Pitareeze family
 * Captain Huba (theft)
 * Nak Pitareeze and family
 * Zorneth
 * Harthan
 * Royal House of Alderaan
 * Captain Raymus Antilles
 * Shen-and-Gretta Pikeual-Angeles (briefly; almost immediately returned to Captain Antilles)
 * Jawas
 * Owen and Beru Lars
 * Luke Skywalker
 * Jabba Desilijic Tiure
 * Luke Skywalker
 * Owners with an unknown place in the chronology:
 * Stigrit Krax
 * Larka Nimondro
 * Lott Kemp
 * Jost Ellon
 * Vik Idd
 * Nikki Idd
 * King Gokus
 * Van P. Quist
 * Prince Jagoda
 * Tyne

Behind the scenes

 * The name R2-D2 supposedly derives from 'Reel 2, Dialogue Track 2', which is an example of technical nomenclature used in filmmaking. R2 was played by Kenny Baker in five Star Wars films; although he received onscreen credit, he did not perform in Revenge of the Sith. Many scenes were also filmed using mechanical versions of the character, or as digital-doubles in Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith.


 * R2-D2 was inducted into the Robot Hall of Fame in 2003.


 * In the Italian version of the original trilogy, R2-D2's name is changed to C1-P8. The original name is restored in the new trilogy.


 * When asked in an interview, "Is there a character you are going to miss?" George Lucas replied, "Well, R2-D2...because he's the hero of the whole thing. He's the one that always comes through and saves everybody. I'd like to have a pal like that that would come and save me once in a while..."


 * The real-life anti-missile system Phalanx CIWS is nicknamed 'R2-D2'.

Speculation
It has been speculated that R2-D2 relates the tale of the Skywalkers to a Keeper of the Whills about one hundred years after the fall of the Empire, around 104 ABY. This theory is based on a single comment from George Lucas which is mentioned on page 72 of The Making of Star Wars Revenge of the Sith, where George remarks to Rob Coleman that the story of Star Wars is actually recounted by R2-D2 to the Keeper of the Whills, one hundred years after Return of the Jedi. "Journal of the Whills" is what Lucas titled his first outline of Star Wars back in 1972. Whether a single remark constitutes canon is a subject of much debate.

Abilities controversy


In the prequel trilogy, especially Revenge of the Sith and Attack of the Clones, Artoo seems to have far more abilities and maneuverability than he did during the original trilogy. The introduction of claw guns, tow ropes, oil slicks and most notoriously, booster rockets, have led many fans to speculate on why the R2 unit has far fewer tools at his disposal during the Galactic Civil War. Some believe Artoo's systems could simply have deteriorated from "old age", as mechanical objects tend to do over long periods of time, and so more impressive tools, such as jet rockets, no longer function.

Others have theorized that more recent owners, such as Raymus Antilles, may have removed these abilities&mdash;either for the adventurous little droid's own good, or to install more practical modifications. Many simply believe R2-D2 had no need for some of the abilities showcased in the prequel trilogy, and therefore never used them. Yet others speculate that, after Artoo was damaged during the Trench Run, his robot brain was transferred to another shell which lacked these components.

Although never shown on-screen, there are some scenes in the original trilogy where R2 appears to utilize some form of booster equipment. Moving underneath the swamp-water on Dagobah, for instance, would be almost impossible if R2 could only roll along the bottom, as a swamp lake-bottom would be far from smooth and easily navigable. The droid also appears to have somehow lifted himself into his X-wing socket as Luke Skywalker prepares to leave the planet in ESB.

Additionally, there is a humorous scene in the Droids episode "Tail of the Roon Comets" where R2 turns on a jukebox and begins to breakdance. This was probably meant as humor for the children, seeing their favorite robot dance in a funny fashion. So far, it is accepted- though not proven - that it is impossible for R2 to complete the moves he does in the cartoon.

R2 saves the day
In every official Star Wars film, R2-D2 saves the life of one or more of the series' heroes:
 * The Phantom Menace: Artoo fixes the shield on the J-Type 327 Nubian royal starship, allowing it to escape the Blockade of Naboo.
 * Attack of the Clones: He shuts down the machine before it can pour molten durasteel onto Padmé Amidala.
 * Revenge of the Sith: He starts the elevator so Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi can rescue Palpatine, creates a distraction to General Grievous so Obi-Wan & Anakin can retrieve their lightsabers.
 * A New Hope: He stops the garbage compactor from crushing Han Solo, Leia Organa, Chewbacca and Luke Skywalker.
 * The Empire Strikes Back: R2-D2 uses an extinguisher to cloud a doorway, allowing Leia, Chewbacca, and Lando to escape onto the Millennium Falcon. Minutes later, he also repairs the Falcon's hyperdrive, allowing the ship to escape Imperial capture.
 * Return of the Jedi: He gives Luke his lightsaber, allowing him to save his friends from Jabba the Hutt.

Trivia

 * In Dr. Slump, Dr.Mashirito's lab is Artoo's head.
 * The English pronunciation of R2-D2 is very similar to the Spanish word "Arturito", which means "Little Arthur".
 * The mechanical version of R2-D2 was operated by Grant Imahara, former robot operator and now on the Discovery show MythBusters.