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26-612: Dextre , also known as the Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator ( SPDM ), is a two-armed robot, or telemanipulator , which is part of the Mobile Servicing System on the International Space Station (ISS), and does repairs that would otherwise require astronauts to do spacewalks . It was launched on March 11, 2008, on the mission STS-123 . Dextre is a part of Canada 's contributions to

52-831: A Pump Flow Control Subassembly, and a Main Bus Switching Unit. It is also relied on heavily for extracting experiments and payloads from visiting vehicles, installing them to their final locations on the exterior of the ISS. Finally, Dextre supports scientific research and robotics development through experiments such as the Robotics External Leak Locator, Robotic Refueling Mission, and the Materials International Space Station Experiment Flight Facility (MISSE-FF). In early August 2004 NASA declared its intention to use Dextre (or

78-591: A close copy of it) as the robotic component for the Hubble Space Telescope rescue mission. Months after awarding a contract to MDA to provide an SPDM copy for the Hubble repair mission, NASA then canceled the mission in favour of flying a Shuttle mission to perform the repairs/upgrades. NASA cited excessive risks and new-found confidence in the Space Shuttle external tank as reasons for the cancellation. Dextre

104-651: A group of Canadian investors; the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan (OTPP) became the largest shareholder with a 29% stake. In the 2000s, MDA experienced difficulties winning government contracts in the United States due to its foreign ownership. In 2008, an attempt to sell the space division to Alliant Techsystems was blocked by the Canadian government on national security grounds. The subsequent lack of Canadian business led to layoffs. The real estate information business

130-411: A man who invents and uses such devices), is a device which, through electronic , hydraulic , or mechanical linkages, allows a hand -like mechanism to be controlled by a human operator. The purpose of such a device is usually to move or manipulate hazardous materials for reasons of safety , similar to the operation and play of a claw crane game. In 1945, the company Central Research Laboratories

156-630: A part of Dextre's complement of tools and are stowed on the RRM platform. In 2013 the H-II Transport Vehicle brought the RRM On-orbit Transfer Cage (ROTC), which is a sliding table within the Japanese airlock platform from which to retrieve and subsequently install new hardware. The Visual Inspection Poseable Invertebrate Robot (VIPIR), a borescope camera with a 34-inch long flexible tube,

182-528: A payload. Dextre moves one arm at a time, while one arm may hold onto the station (using specially provided standard H or Micro interfaces) for stability and ease of control the other is available to perform tasks. The lower body of Dextre has a pair of orientable colour TV cameras with lights, a platform for stowing ORUs, and a tool holster. The tool holster is equipped with two Robotic Micro Conical Tools (RMCTs), which allow an arm to grasp additional types of ORU fixtures. The Socket Extension Tool (SET) extends

208-470: Is a three-fingered hand that is designed to attach to the end of Dextre's arm. It has not been delivered to the ISS. Dextre was designed and manufactured by MDA Space Missions (now MDA ) as part of the $ 200 million contracted by the Canadian Space Agency , which will oversee its future operations and the necessary training of station crews. It completed all necessary testing and was delivered to

234-561: Is about 1,662 kilograms (3,664 lb). The 3.5-metre-long body pivots at the "waist". The body has a Power Data grapple fixture at the 'head' end that can be grasped by the larger Space Station Arm, Canadarm2 so that Dextre can be positioned at the various Orbital Replacement Unit (ORU) worksites around the Space Station. The other end of the body has a Latching End Effector virtually identical to that of Canadarm2, so that Dextre can also be attached to Space Station grapple fixtures or

260-543: The Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida, in mid-June 2007. Once at KSC, it underwent flight verification testing followed by shuttle integration. Dextre was launched to the ISS on March 11, 2008, aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour on mission STS-123 . It "woke up" and activated heaters needed for keeping its joints and electronics warm after receiving power from the space station's Canadarm2 on March 14. During

286-519: The Mobile Base System . Dextre can also be operated whilst it is attached to the end of Canadarm2. Each arm is somewhat like a shortened Canadarm2 (in that it has 7 joints) but is fixed to Dextre at one end. At the end of Dextre's arms are ORU/Tool Changeout Mechanisms (OTCM). The OTCM has built-in grasping jaws, a retractable socket drive, a monochrome TV camera, lights, and an umbilical connector that can provide power, data, and video to/from

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312-651: The CSA announced the finalised agreement to collaborate on the Gateway, which included the Canadarm3, the installation of two scientific instruments and commitment to provide two crew positions for Canadian astronauts. On 7 April 2021, MDA became a publicly traded company on the Toronto Stock Exchange trading under the symbol MDA. On 16 August 2023, Telesat Canada announced it had chosen MDA to build 198 small satellites for

338-399: The ISS and was named to represent its dexterous nature. Dextre is the newest of three Canadian robotic arms used on the ISS, preceded by the Space Shuttle's Canadarm and the large Canadarm2 . Dextre was designed and manufactured by MDA . In the early morning of February 4, 2011, Dextre completed its first official assignment which consisted of unpacking two pieces for Kounotori 2 while

364-420: The crew tested all of its joints and brakes. Astronauts finished outfitting the robot during a third spacewalk on March 17, 2008. After testing and trials, the first planned use was in the removal and replacement of an RPCM (Remote Power Control Module) in 2009. In the early morning of February 4, 2011, Dextre completed its first official assignment which consisted of unpacking two pieces for Kounotori 2 while

390-657: The iconic remote manipulator seen in newsreels and movies, such as The Andromeda Strain or THX 1138 . Robert A. Heinlein claimed a much earlier origin for remote manipulators. He wrote that he got the idea for "waldos" after reading a 1918 article in Popular Mechanics about "a poor fellow afflicted with myasthenia gravis ... [who] devised complicated lever arrangements to enable him to use what little strength he had." An article in Science Robotics on robots, science fiction, and nuclear accidents discusses how

416-504: The length of the grasping socket on an arm, and the Robotic Off-Set Tool (ROST) allows an arm to grasp difficult-to-reach targets. Several new tools were added as part of the 2011 Robotic Refueling Mission . A Wire Cutter, Safety Cap Removal Tool, EVR Nozzle Tool and a Multifunction Tool with several adapters. These tools are not installed on Dextre but are used by Dextre when performing RRM operations. The tools are not considered

442-423: The mission's second spacewalk on March 16, spacewalking astronauts attached the two 3.35-metre (11.0 ft) arms to the robot's main body and further prepared the machine for its handyman job on the station. After the spacewalk, crew members hooked Dextre back up to the station's robotic arm to keep it warm and to allow NASA to perform tests to ensure all of Dextre's electronics were working properly. Later that day,

468-565: The new company MDA ; the company is headquartered in Canada. On 9 December 2020, The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) awarded MDA a contract to develop and construct the Canadarm3 as part of Canada's contribution to the NASA-led Lunar Gateway Program. The contract is for the first phase of the program and is worth C$ 22.8 million, with options for follow-on phases. The contract was further confirmed on December 16, 2020, when NASA and

494-404: The on-board crew was sleeping. As flight controllers have gained experience planning and executing Dextre operations, its use has become a more critical part of ISS maintenance. It is capable of removing and replacing (R&R) many ORUs on the ISS that would normally otherwise require costly and risky spacewalks to repair. Examples of items successfully R&R'd include RPCMs, an external camera,

520-449: The on-board crew was sleeping. Dextre is designed to handle and complete orbital replacement units : Many spares are stored on the ISS and Dextre is able to carry them to and from worksites and install replacements when failures occur. Before Dextre arrived astronauts were required to perform space walks to carry out this long work. Dextre resembles a gigantic torso fitted with two extremely agile, 3.5 metres (11 ft) arms. Total mass

546-425: The science fiction waldos are now a major type of real-world robots used in the nuclear industry. MDA Space Missions MDA Space (formerly MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates ) was founded in 1969 by John S. MacDonald and Vern Dettwiler in the basement of MacDonald's Vancouver home. The company became a subsidiary of Orbital Sciences Corporation (OSC) from the United States on 17 November 1995. MDA

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572-669: Was added as part of the Robotic Refueling Mission — Phase 2. It was delivered to the station in 2014. In 2015, the International Space Station Robotic External Leak Locator (IRELL), developed by NASA, was delivered to the ISS. It includes a mass spectrometer and an ion vacuum pressure gauge to detect leaks of ammonia, one of the coolants used on the International Space Station. SARAH (Self-Adaptive Robotic Auxiliary Hand)

598-561: Was given the contract to develop a remote manipulator for the Argonne National Laboratory . The intent was to replace devices which manipulated highly radioactive materials from above a sealed chamber or hot cell , with a mechanism which operated through the side wall of the chamber, allowing a researcher to stand normally while working. The result was the Master-Slave Manipulator Mk. 8, or MSM-8, which became

624-616: Was primary contractor for, and took ownership of, the RADARSAT-2 Earth observation satellite. MDA bought the space robotics division of Spar Aerospace —manufacturer of the Canadarm —in March 1999, renaming it MD Robotics . The company completed the Mobile Servicing System (including the Canadarm2) for the International Space Station . OSC sold its entire stake in 2001. Nearly 70% was sold to

650-507: Was sold in early 2011. MDA bought Space Systems/Loral from Loral Space & Communications in 2012., leading to OTPP reducing its stake to less than 10%. MDA bought DigitalGlobe in 2017, and rebranded as Maxar Technologies .; the company moved its headquarters to Colorado, United States. On 8 April 2020, Toronto-based investment firm Northern Private Capital bought the MDA assets from Maxar for CA$ 1 billion ( US$ 765 million). and named

676-468: Was the subject of an April Fool's Day joke article on April 1, 2008, on NASA's APOD website. Dextre was also featured in the new $ 5 Canadian Polymer bank note together with Canadarm2 , which Commander Chris Hadfield helped reveal aboard the International Space Station. Telemanipulator A remote manipulator , also known as a telefactor , telemanipulator , or waldo (after the 1942 short story " Waldo " by Robert A. Heinlein which features

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