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ISS News
Happy 9th Birthday, Canadarm2!
Credit: NASA
On April 22, 2001, Canadarm2 was installed on board the International Space Station (ISS). It was an all-Canadian day on the ISS, with the robotic arm being installed by Canadian Space Agency Astronaut Chris Hadfield during the first Canadian spacewalk. The CSA’s current President, Steve MacLean, was also working as CAPCOM at the time, and paid homage to Hadfield and Canadarm2 by playing "Oh Canada" from Mission Control at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, making it the first anthem ever played in space.
Credit: NASA
Over the past 9 years, Canadarm2 has done all of the heavy lifting on the ISS by assembling the orbiting lab module by module. Canadarm2 has also served as a means of transporting astronauts and has even caught a free-flying satellite (HTV) and docked it to the Station.
Congratulations to all the entire team from government and industry who built and operate this enduring international symbol of Canadian ingenuity!
