Ask-an-expert - CSA engineer answers fan questions about new vision system for the ISS

Uploaded on January 15, 2016

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Ask-an-expert - CSA engineer answers fan questions about new vision system for the ISS

2016-01-15 - Last week, our fans asked us some great questions about Dextre's new vision system to inspect the International Space Station. Taryn Tomlinson, Senior Engineer at the Canadian Space Agency, answers your questions. (Credits: Canadian Space Agency, Neptec)

Hello, my name is Taryn Tomlinson. I’m an engineer at the Canadian Space Agency.

The first question is: Will the new system be attached to Dextre permanently?

The system will not be permanently attached to Dextre; it will be stowed on the mobile base. As needed, Dextre will pick up the system to inspect the Space station.

How will the camera inspect all of the infrastructure of the ISS?

The system will be attached to Dextre and Dextre is attached to our arm which is 17 metres long.  The operators can move the arm to the location of the damage for inspection.  The arm can be operated here at the Canadian Space Agency, or it can be operated on orbit on the International Space Station by the astronauts. 

Will the new Dextre vision system constantly be scanning the ISS?

No, the system will be used on an as-needed basis. And it will be probably be used a few times per month. Once it’s attached to Dextre, it can scan constantly, or it could take a snapshot, or it could do both.

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