The life of an astromech droid can seem like a pretty boring one. Astromechs are a series of robots most often used for maintenance and repair of starships and related technology. In this view, an astromech's life seems fairly boring. And in Star Wars history, there have been notable astromechs we have become familiar with: the astromech droid R4-P17, who was Obi-Wan's astromech in his starfighter from ROTS. Unfortunately, this astromech's life was ended quite violently by a buzz droid. Another astromech we know is R5-D4, who was the red-trimmed cultivator astromech that was almost purchased by Uncle Owen from the Jawa's. But at the last second his motivator shorted out as the astromech was following Luke. Which is a very good thing considering the galaxy would have turned out much differently if that astromech had survived that short roll to the homestead. Which brings us to the most notable and famous astromech in the galaxy:

R2-D2 (or Artoo, as we have affectionately come to know this little astromech as).

One can say that the history of Star Wars has as much to do with our favourite little astromech as the Skywalker family does. Artoo has found himself in many situations that astromechs usually aren't in. He's proved himself in his bravery as much as he's proved himself in the duties of an astromech. On more than one occasion he has saved the day, something I don't think too many astromechs can take credit for. And some could also say that the fate of the galaxy was decided upon his quick astromech thinking and loyalty, as I'll try to substantiate here.

Artoo seems to come from the planet Naboo but was manufactured, as all astromechs are, by Industrial Automaton. He was a part of Queen Amidala's entourage and one of a few astromechs aboard her ship heading off Naboo as the Trade Federation invaded. The ship sustained damage to the shields and where the other astromech droids failed in their attempts to fix them, Artoo proved his worth as a brave astromech. He repaired the ship as his little astromech rollers magnetized themselves to the surface of the ship and they entered hyperspace. And having the technical data within his astromech memory, Artoo accompanied Qui-Gon, Padme (and others) into Mos Espa to buy parts. He would also find a lifelong friend there in C3P0 who together formed a formidable astromech-protocol droid friendship. But it was Artoo's bravery as a unique astromech that led them there, which also led them to Anakin. And Artoo also was Anakin's on-board astromech as he piloted the starfighter that destroyed the droid command ship to save Naboo.

And further into AOTC, Artoo used his astromech anti-grav boosters to save Padme from the downpour of molten lava on Geonosis. Can you imagine how Anakin would have felt if this astromech hadn't been able to save Padme? Now, he did fail to alert Padme in her apartment from Zam Wessel's assassination attempt as his astromech scan didn't pick up the bugs, but he really did atone for that when he saved Padme on Geonosis.

And of course, in ROTS, he was witness to the events that happened on Mustafar, and recorded them in his astromech memory (as evidenced in The Dark Nest Trilogy). He knew what happened to Anakin and Padme, but couldn't really tell anyone given his astromech limitations in communication and perhaps his ability to keep his astromech beeps and whistles shut when they needed to be. In my mind it speaks to the loyalty he has to the Skywalker family as their dedicated astromech. Remember it was Threepio, not our beloved astromech that was ordered to have his mind wiped.

However, as things shift, years later he becomes a tool for Leia to hide the Death Star plans in his astromech memory banks and to be sent on a mission to find Obi-Wan Kenobi and bring him to Alderaan. Once again, Artoo finds himself as the most important figure of the day and an astromech with a purpose. No one suspects the plans to be hidden within an astromech droid as he and Threepio find themselves some freedom to pursue Artoo's hidden mission. And as events unfolded, the brave astromech found himself helping to find Obi-Wan, freeing Leia on the Death Star and assisting Luke, as his on-board astromech, to destroy the Death Star. The Skywalker-Astromech legacy continues.

And Artoo is also witness to Luke's growing power in the Force and his training as a Jedi, something the little astromech would remember with Anakin. He went to Dagobah with Luke and went places no other astromech had been before. He also showed his astromech dedication and intelligence by helping to re-assemble the pieces of Threepio, his stout friend.

Artoo was also in on the plans with Luke to rescue their friends from the clutches of Jabba by hiding Luke's lightsabre within his astromech body and taking on the role of a drink server to get into the Palace. His unassuming astromech duties helped him to complete this mission and escape from Jabba's palace.
And as much as he tried, he sometimes had setbacks that were a result of being an astromech droid. As he tried to bypass the security system on Endor to get into the force-field generator building, his little astromech body took a shot from a stormtrooper that neutralized him. But being the strong-willed astromech that he was, he survived and lived to help celebrate the end of the Empire, and the re-birth of the Skywalker family. His setbacks and successes only proved that the littlest of creatures, such as an astromech droid, can make a big difference in the fate of a galaxy.

In the end, Artoo is an astromech droid that goes way beyond the parameters of an astromech droid. He's a feisty and independent astromech, as well as smart, brave and humble one. He's sort of like the family pet in an astromech body. He is loyal to his family, he makes a terrific best friend, he's got all the tools of the trade and the know-how and he's willing to put his astromech body on the line in the trickiest of situations. He is probably the most brave astromech droid to have been created and is never afraid to do what is right. And he's saved his friends and the galaxy in many situations that no other astromech has been able to. In my mind he is a pivotal character in the events of Star Wars and worthy of every astromech award they could make. Artoo is indeed an astromech hero and has helped shaped Star Wars history from the beginning.

You go, astromech.