How Canada won the “arms” race

The first test of the Canadian robot arm on the shuttle: STS-2, November 1981

Canada seems to make very good robot arms. The robotic arms used by the space shuttles were made by Spar Aerospace, and have been in service since the second shuttle flight, in 1981.

The Canadian company, Spar, was later acquired by a company in British Columbia, MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates (MDA)

Testing instead of sleeping

Back during that first test, the shuttle crew—Dick Truly and Joe Engle—stayed up after telling mission control good night. Then, they “secretly” tested the arm. Until then, the tests had been postponed due to other problems with the shuttle. This crew, however, wanted to achieve all mission objectives. And losing a little sleep wasn’t going to stop them.

In those days, the shuttle didn’t have continuous contact with ground controller—but even so, astronaut Engle didn’t think NASA was fooled.

Launching satellites, building a space station

In any case, the tests were completed and the Canadian robotic arm did very well. This was good, because it would be needed to put large satellites into orbit. And, many years later, and advanced robotic arm was used in building the International Space Station.

Robot arm helps shuttle inspect itself

After the Columbia disaster, the robot arm was given a new roll. Cameras were mounted on it, and it has been used to allow the crew to inspect the shuttle for damage. If there’s any lost or damaged heat shielding tiles, for example, the cameras on the robotic arm could identify it. And then, presumable, astronauts would go outside and fix any critical damage.

Retiring the arms

When the shuttles are retired in the next few years, and Endeavor, Discovery and Atlantis become museum exhibits…their robot arms will fly no more.

However, the International Space Station will continue to orbit the earth, and the astronauts aboard will continue to use a robotic arm—also created by the same Canadian company.

A Japanese robot arm is also aboard the ISS.