Robotics centres

The Canadian Space Agency's (CSA) robotics centres are all about our space robots, and the people who harness their potential. The CSA's ground team consists of two groups — the flight control team and the engineering support team.

Robotics Training Centre

Large training room with various workstations, one of which is mounted to a stylized wall meant to evoke the International Space Station. There are two models of the station in the room, as some photos of station components on the walls.

This is where people are trained to operate Canadarm2 and Dextre before handling the actual robots on the International Space Station (ISS). The simulators they use here are as close as can be to the real thing.

All astronauts who are required to operate Canadarm2 from the ISS must go through two weeks of intensive training at the Robotics Training Centre.

Simulation hub

These facilities accurately recreate the workstations astronauts use on the ISS. Here you can see Jenni Gibbons hard at work.

Jenni works at a workstation with multiple small screens. — CSA astronaut Jenni Gibbons undergoes robotics training. All astronauts who may be required to control Canadarm2 from on board the ISS must take this robotics training at the CSA. (Credit: CSA)

Robotics Mission Control Centre

Large room with several workstations on two different levels. There is a huge screen at the front of the room to show live views of the ISS, and a viewing gallery on the second floor at the back of the room. On a side wall, mission patches are displayed.

The Robotics Mission Control Centre is designed to function in the same way as NASA Mission Control in Houston. The flight control team uses this facility to plan, monitor, and control more than half of all Canadarm2 operations, and all of Dextre's operations, happening on the ISS.

From the ground up

Canadarm2 can be controlled from the ground, as well as from the ISS. That way, astronauts on board the Station are not "tethered" to the robotics and are free to spend more time conducting experiments.

Some behind-the-scenes

Lucky us! Jeremy Hansen was able to capture some behind-the-scenes footage of the team controlling robotics in real time! At least 90% of Canadarm2's activities are conducted from the ground.

CSA astronaut Jeremy Hansen gives you a short tour of the Robotics Mission Control Centre. (Credit: CSA)

Transcript

Operations and Engineering Centre

Office area with several workstations. There are three screens at the front of the room to show live views of the ISS.

In this control room, the engineering support team, consisting of engineers and robotics experts, assembles to support the flight control team during the planning and execution of robotics missions on the ISS.

Date modified:: 2025-09-12

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