High bay
The high bay is pretty grand
This enormous section of the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) headquarters holds our most massive equipment. This is where you really get a sense of the true scale of Canada's iconic contributions, like Canadarm2 and Dextre.
In this video, watch David Saint-Jacques answer 10 fun questions in 60 seconds, in this very room!
(Credit: CSA)
Canadarm2
At 17 m long, and almost 1,500 kg, Canadarm2 was attached to the International Space Station (ISS) in by Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield and American astronaut Scott Parazynski.
This Canadian robotic arm lends a helping hand to perform Station maintenance, to move supplies, equipment, Dextre and even astronauts, and to perform "cosmic catches" by grappling visiting vehicles and berthing them to the ISS.
Dextre
The Canadian robot Dextre on the International Space Station (ISS) is a seriously handy robot. It's actually the most sophisticated space robot ever built. With its two independent arms, both articulated by seven joints, Dextre has an incredible range of motion, and even has a human-like sense of touch. Not only that, but it has five eyes (as in cameras) that are used to inspect the exterior of the ISS and to monitor spacecraft approach and departure.
See Dextre replacing batteries on the Station in this simulation:
(Credit: CSA)
Compact Canadarm2
This model shows how Canadarm2 was folded up for its ride to the ISS aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour.
The Mobile Base System
The Mobile Base System acts as both a moveable workstation and storage. Along with Canadarm2 and Dextre, it's part of a Canadian trio of robotic elements essential to the operations and maintenance of the ISS.
Grapple fixture
These anchor points secure Canadarm2 to the Mobile Base System, providing power, data, and video connections from the ISS while holding it firmly in place.
Portable foot restraint
If you're stepping out for a spacewalk, you'd better fasten up! Since the days of the first Canadarm, this contraption has been used to secure an astronaut's feet to our robotic arms.
Here, you can see it used to secure Chris Hadfield to Canadarm on Space Shuttle Endeavour.
Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield stands on the portable foot restraint (PFR) connected to Canadarm on Space Shuttle Endeavour during one of two spacewalks of mission STS-100. (Credit: NASA)