Canadarm2's Cosmic Catches - Images and Videos

Robotic arm grapples free-flying ships to dock them with the International Space Station (ISS)

Videos and Animations

Hadfield behind the controls of Canadarm2

As the crew of Expedition 34 prepare for rendezvous with SpaceX's Dragon, Chris Hadfield takes us to the Robotic Workstation where they will command Canadarm2 to capture and dock the cargo vehicle. Filmed from inside the cupola, we are privileged with an inside look at how Canadarm2 is operated. Capture of the Dragon is slated for March 2, 2013 at approximately 6:30 a.m. (Credit: Canadian Space Agency)

Canadarm2's Cosmic Catch: Dragon

Computer animation showing how Dragon approaching the ISS, with Canadarm2 grappling the capsule in free flight and docking it to the station. (Credit: Canadian Space Agency)

Dragon's Delivery: Canadarm2 unpacks the capsule's cargo

Ground operators at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston and Canadian Space Agency headquarters in St-Hubert, Quebec, use Canadarm2 to extract two new grapple bars from SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft and stow them on the mobile base. (Credit: Canadian Space Agency)

Canadarm2 releases Dragon for its return flight

At the end of its mission, Canadarm2 undocks and releases Dragon for its return to Earth, where it will then be retrieved and reused. (Credit: Canadian Space Agency)

Images

Canadarm2 secures the HTV-3

Canadarm2 secures the HTV-3 exposed pallet to the Japanese H-II Transfer Vehicle in August 2012. (Credit: NASA)

Canadarm2 to capture Dragon

Astronauts commanded Canadarm2 to capture Dragon as the spacecraft flew within 10 metres of the station during its 2012 demonstration flight. (Credit: NASA)