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Canada’s Ticket to the Space Station

In April 2001, the Space Shuttle Endeavour delivered a package that was Canada’s key to the International Space Station, now being assembled about 400 kilometres above earth.

Canadarm2

This is when the latest generation robotic arm—Canadarm2, the Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) —was installed on the Station, with the aid of Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield.

For Canadians, it was an event comparable to the day when the Canadarm was first lofted above the Shuttle’s cargo bay against the backdrop of Earth floating by below. Like the Canadarm, Canadarm2 is a distinctive Canadian contribution, providing an essential tool without which the Space Station could not function.

In fact, the Station could not even be built without Canadarm2. "Every single mission will need it," said Savinder Sachdev, Director General of Space Systems for the Canadian Space Agency.

Contributing a robotic arm to the Station was a natural choice for Canada, given the successful track record of the Canadarm.

"Robotics was identified as a strategic technology for Canada, it was a self-contained package that Canada could afford, and it was a critical component of infrastructure which gave Canada a particular role and status in building the ISS," said Savinder Sachdev, Director General of Space Systems.

Canadarm2 will play another essential role: it gives Canadian scientists access to the Station’s laboratory facilities to conduct experiments. It also entitles Canada to send an astronaut to the Station every three years for a tour of duty lasting three to four months.

The contribution of Canadarm2 buys Canadians the right to use 2.3% of the laboratory space in the non-Russian part of the Station, as well as access to a platform outside that exposes experiments to open space. CSA is currently working with scientists across Canada to develop future Space Station experiments.

The contribution of technology is also helping Canada pay for its share of the Station’s operating costs. CSA will provide another robotic system, known as the Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator (SPDM), to pre-pay part of these user fees. Credits for supporting the repair and overhaul of Canadarm2 are also expected to be applied against Canada’s user fees.

The Space Station still has to undergo about five years of heavy construction work but for many Canadian scientists, the countdown to being able to do experiments onboard begins as Canadarm2 takes its first step onto the Station’s external structure.

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