High above our heads the space shuttle Endeavour is docked to the International Space Station (ISS) while astronauts deliver the payload of spare parts and scientific equipment.
In this mission the major component to be transported from Earth is the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer 2 (AMS-02). AMS-02 will be used to analyze cosmic rays, investigate antimatter and search for elusive dark matter. Scientists hope measuring these space particles will help us understand the origins of the universe.
This was no ordinary delivery - AMS-02 is a delicate and expensive piece of technology that needed to be moved with care and precision. Thankfully, the shuttle and ISS are equipped with the best technology available for manoeuvring items in the extreme environment of space - Canadian-developed robotic arms.
The shuttle is fitted with the Canadarm, which was first deployed in 1981. It is similar in structure to the human arm with a shoulder, elbow and wrist joints. Unlike a human arm, the Canadarm is 15 metres long and able to move payloads weighing more than 200 tons.
The ISS is fitted with the 10-year-old Canadarm2. Canadarm2 is more advanced than the original model, capable of a greater degree of movement with sensors that provide feedback to the human operators, similar to a sense of touch. Unlike the first-generation arm, Canadarm2 is not fixed at one end. By attaching and detaching to power and data points, the entire structure can move end over end to reach various areas of the ISS, making it much more versatile.
On Thursday, May 19, astronauts on board the shuttle deployed the Canadarm to extract the AMS from the cargo bay of the shuttle. The precious particle detector was handed to Canadarm2, which then attached it to the starboard side of the ISS. The AMS has since been powered up, and will shortly begin to send data to scientists on Earth.
The Canadarm will be retired after the last shuttle launch, which is likely to be the shuttle Atlantis scheduled for a mission in June. According to CBC News, the robotic arm is likely to come back to Canada and will hopefully be placed on public display in a Canadian science museum. Canadarm2 will continue to be used on the ISS for many years to come.
In addition to the contributions of robotic technology, Canada has a long history of involvement in space flight and exploration. Canadian astronauts have flown 14 times on the space shuttle, and Canadian scientists have contributed toward numerous scientific experiments performed in space which have added to our understanding of fields as diverse as eye-hand co-ordination, aging and machine vision systems.
Next year, Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield will live and work on board the International Space Station for six months. During this time Hadfield will be assume control of the ISS as commander - a major milestone in Canadian space exploration.
For more information on Canada's contribution to space exploration, and information on current and future missions into space, visit the Canadian Space Agency website: www.asc-csa.gc.ca.
