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ISS News

Canadarm2 lands a hole-in-one while adding a new Russian module to the ISS

Canadarm2 lofts the Russian Rassvet module above the International Space Station
(Photo: NASA TV)

On May 18, 2010, Canadarm2 performed its first-ever installation of a Russian segment of the International Space Station (ISS). With Mission Specialists Garrett Reisman and Piers Sellers at the helm, Canadarm2 worked in tandem with the Shuttle's Canadarm to remove the Rassvet science lab (Russian for "dawn") and place it on the Earth-facing section of the ISS's Zarya module.

Docking a Russian module involved a completely new approach for the Canadian team that plans Canadarm2's every move. Typically, Soyuz and Progress vehicles dock with the Space Station by brute force: the spacecraft slides into a cone-shaped mechanism that helps align it and then literally collides with its port on the ISS. The force of the impact is necessary to trip the latches that secure the spacecraft to the Station (much like slamming the gate in your backyard to ensure that it latches properly). However, Rassvet required Canadarm2's precise positioning capabilities to dock it to the ISS. The robotic arm's astronaut operators maneuvered the 8000 kg module into position without even touching the sides of the cone.

STS-132 marks Canadarm2's 26th Shuttle assembly mission since its installation on the International Space Station in 2001. By the time STS-132 is over, Canadarm2 will have assisted 92 spacewalks and unloaded 41 payloads ferried by the Space Shuttle.