On Tuesday, two NASA astronauts successfully replaced a malfunctioning joint on the International Space Station’s (ISS) robotic arm. This ‘orbital surgery’ was a seven-hour, 20-minute mission.
As the astronauts floated 260 miles above Earth, Canadian astronaut Jenni Gibbons praised their efforts. She communicated from mission control, commending their excellent work.
Astronauts Overcome Malfunction
On May 27, flight controllers at the Johnson Space Center noticed irregularities in one of the joints of the arm, known as Canadarm2. The joint was drawing excessive current and not operating correctly. After analysis, NASA and the Canadian Space Agency determined the joint required replacement. Two spares were available on an external platform.
Systems like Canadarm2 were designed with replaceable components. Maintenance was always in mind, and this situation is no exception,said Bill Spetch, manager of ISS operations and integration.
Spacewalk Details
Astronauts Jessica Meir and Chris Williams initiated the spacewalk by switching their suits to battery power at 8:20 a.m. ET. This was Williams’ second and Meir’s fifth spacewalk.
Near the external platform, they prepared foot restraints and positioned the spare joint for installation. The first task was detaching the arm’s ‘hand,’ also known as the latching end effector (LEE), along with two operational joints. The temporary storage of the 900-pound assembly opened the way to remove the malfunctioning 200-pound wrist joint. The new joint was successfully installed four and a half hours into the spacewalk.
Flight Director Fiona Antkowiak explained the process: We’ll remove the failed joint five, replace it with the spare, and then reattach the LEE cluster for a fully assembled arm.
Successful Completion
Five and a half hours into the mission, Williams and Meir reattached the LEE cluster as planned. After confirmation of good electrical connections, the arm was powered up. NASA commentator Sandra Jones confirmed the success, noting the robot arm had full power and data connectivity.
After reattaching the LEE cluster, the astronauts collected equipment and returned to the airlock. They also brought back the failed joint, which will be sent to Earth for repairs. Once repaired, this joint will return to the ISS for future use if needed.
Importance of the Robot Arm
The robot arm is essential for ISS operations. It captures Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus cargo ships for docking and assists with moving components and astronauts during maintenance.
There’s no time we’re done repairing the arm,Spetch emphasized. The robot arm is crucial for ISS operations, requiring maintenance up to the station’s planned decommissioning by 2030.
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