Joint issue on Canadarm2
On May 27, during routine operations of Canadarm2 on the International Space Station, the system reported an issue in a joint in the robotic arm. The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) is working with international partners and MDA Space (who developed and built Canadarm2) to determine the cause of the issue and explore troubleshooting options. Non-time-sensitive operations were paused while the team determined next steps. Partners agreed that a spacewalk would be required to replace the joint. The spacewalk is expected to occur on .
Canadarm2 was designed with these kinds of potential issues in mind: it is made up of several segments that can be pulled out and replaced in space. Knowing that parts would eventually have to be replaced, the CSA planned shipments of key spares to the Station well in advance. In , a similar repair happened with one of the robotic arm's "hands" after it started to show signs of normal wear and tear.
After more than 25 years of critical work on board the Station, Canadarm2 is showing signs of normal wear and tear. Our suite of space robots continues to carry out their necessary duties, despite being 10 years beyond their original design life. Our main objective is to ensure Canadian robotics continue performing critical operations for the Station and its partners.