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Canada is one of the international partners working with the United States, Russia,
Japan and 11 nations, members of the European Space Agency, to construct the largest
and the most sophisticated international engineering project ever undertaken, the
International Space Station.
The International Space Station will provide scientists and engineers with ongoing
access to the unique microgravity (very low gravity) environment of space. As a
permanent space laboratory, the ISS will allow scientists and engineers to use this
unique venue to discover entirely new materials, crystals and processes that would
not otherwise be achieved. Research will be conducted in a variety of fields such as
life sciences, materials, Earth observation and astronomy. It will also establish a
permanent human presence in space and result in the acquisition of knowledge required
to conduct human missions to Mars and beyond.
Canada is contributing an essential component of the International Space Station,
the Mobile Servicing System (MSS). A Canadian-based company, MD Robotics,
developed the MSS under contract with the Canadian Space Agency. The MSS consists of
three main elements: the Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS), known as Canadarm2, the
Mobile Base System (MBS), and the Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator (SPDM).
Canadarm2 and the MBS, its platform, are essential tools for the assembly of the
ISS. The SPDM, a smaller two-arm robot will enable the Mobile Servicing System to
perform delicate operations and reduce the amount of time that astronauts and
cosmonauts spend working outside the ISS in the hostile space environment.
Canada is also supplying the
Canadian Space Vision Systems (CSVS) to support robotic operations. Because it is
difficult to sense depth in space, the CSVS will give astronauts precise information
as to the position and orientation of the large objects that they are handling or
docking using the Canadian robotic system thus increasing the efficiency and safety
of their operations.
The Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS), known as Canadarm2, is the
first component of the Mobile Servicing System. Although similar to the Shuttle
Canadarm, this 17 metre manipulator is somewhat larger and incorporates many advanced
features, including the ability to self relocate.
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