When you need a robotic arm in space, call the experts. In the past decades, the Canadian Space Agency has provided robotic weapons for the Space Shuttle and the International Space Station. And now it will build the next generation of robotic systems to go to the Moon, called Canadarm3.
CSA says the new robotic arm will be Canada’s contribution to the Lunar Gateway for NASA’s Artemis program, which is becoming the next major international collaboration in human space exploration. CSA leaders add that this is another important step forward in the country’s participation in the next exploration chapter of the Moon.
“Canada will continue to push the limits of human ambition in space exploration and inspire generations of children, and adults, to always aim higher and aspire to something bigger,” said Navdeep Bains, Canada’s Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry. . “Our commitment to contribute Canadarm3 to the Lunar Gateway will create high-quality jobs and economic benefits for Canadians, while ensuring that our space industry continues to lead and grow.”
Canadarm3 will be comprised of several parts, including a large 8.5-meter (28-foot) arm and a smaller, more dexterous arm, each with a set of detachable tools.
The main tasks of the arms will be maintaining, repairing, and inspecting the gateway, as well as capturing visiting vehicles, relocating modules, assisting astronauts during spacewalks, and enabling science on both the lunar orbit and the surface of the Moon. , conducting research and experiments that cannot be done on Earth.
Each end of the Canadarm3 arms can be connected to the Gateway using specially designed interfaces on the outside of the Gateway. Like robotic inchworms, each anchor “hand” will connect to an interface that supplies power, data, and video connections. These interfaces will also allow big and small arms to work together to perform tasks, and will help store tools when not in use.
The smaller arm will be equipped to transfer mission critical material between the interior and exterior of the space station. Additionally, the small arm will be able to help repair the larger arm in space if needed. Thus, Canadarm3 will be able to stay in space, swapping parts and constantly staying ready to perform precise operations.
Like Canadarm2 on the ISS, the new arms will have seven degrees of freedom, very similar to the movements of a human arm, with three shoulder joints, one elbow joint, and three wrist joints. Each joint will be able to rotate almost 360 degrees.
The main contractor for the new arm is MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates, Inc. (MDA), but hundreds of Canadian companies are expected to participate in the development of Canadarm3.
Canadarm was the first Canadian robotic arm to go into space and was first tested and used on the space shuttle in 1981. Canadarm2 has served the International Space Station since 2001.
For more information on Canadarm3, see the CSA website. You can see all the articles we’ve written about the various Canadarms (with some great images!) On Universe Today by clicking here.
