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This jointed robotic arm, known as the Canadarm or Remote Manipulator System arm was used to move payloads and position astronauts working outside the Space Shuttle or International Space Station. This Canadarm flew on 15 missions and four orbiters from 1994 through 2011, including Discovery’s last six missions, all to the International Space Station.
Artifact location in the Museum
Artifact location in the Museum
The Canadarm is in the James S. McDonnell Space Hangar under the shuttle Discovery. More details about the Canadarm are located on its label which is on the main floor in the Space Hangar. Find it for yourself in our Google Expedition!
Additional information
Additional information
How many missions did this Canadarm fly on from 1994 through 2011?
This Canadarm flew on 15 missions and four orbiters from 1994 through 2011.
How was the Canadarm operated?
The Canadarm was operated remotely by an astronaut at a control station inside the spacecraft.
What is Beta cloth?
Beta cloth is a woven Teflon-coated fiberglass fabric. Beta cloth is highly fire resistant. Television cameras mounted on the arm assist the operator in precisely controlling its movements.
Canadarm Camera
Attached to the payload bay sill of the shuttle and remotely operated by an astronaut at a control station inside the spacecraft. Television cameras mounted on the arm assist the operator in precisely controlling its movements.
Canadarm Joints
The arm has shoulder, elbow, and wrist joints plus an end effector that serves as a grappling hand. The Canadarm also has an attachment that could connect to an adjustable foot restraint, which gave astronauts a portable extravehicular activity workstation.
Canadarm Canada Logo
The Canadian Space Agency supplied robotic arms for the shuttle and space station programs. The exterior materials of the Canadarm include Dacron scrim cloth, Beta cloth, and velcro.
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