Canadarm2 to Undergo ‘Wrist Surgery’ During Tuesday Spacewalk
Canadarm2, Canada’s iconic robotic arm aboard the International Space Station, is due for a critical joint replacement during a scheduled spacewalk on Tuesday. The procedure, described by commentators as robotic orthopedic surgery, will see astronauts Chris Williams and Jessica Meir venture outside the station for approximately 6.5 hours to replace a worn wrist joint on the aging mechanical limb.
A Canadian Icon Twice Its Design Age
Officially known as the Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS), Canadarm2 was launched into orbit by a space shuttle in 2001 and installed on the station by Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield and NASA astronaut Scott Parazynski. The robotic arm was designed with an intended lifespan of 15 years — it is now nearly twice that age.
“It is aging gracefully and showing signs of wear and tear,” said Jason Dyer, deputy liaison manager for the Canadian Space Agency in Houston, during a NASA briefing on Thursday. Dyer emphasized that this graceful aging was always anticipated. “The Canadian Space Agency and its partner MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates designed these joints and the end effectors that were to be replaced.”
The Spacewalk Details
The upcoming spacewalk will be Williams’ second and Meir’s fifth, marking the 280th such endeavor over the station’s history. The joint being replaced weighs approximately 90 kg, while the Latching End Effector — the LEE cluster that will be temporarily detached — weighs more than 400 kg. Astronauts will need to carefully manage these components in the challenging environment of space.
Fiona Antkowiak, NASA’s spacewalk flight manager, expressed confidence in the operation. “We look forward to returning a fully functional arm at the end of the spacewalk,” she said.
The removed joint will be returned to Earth for analysis and repair before being sent back to the station. Dyer noted that spare joints and end effectors are already aboard the station, with another joint on the ground being prepared for future launch.
A Familiar Voice from Earth
In another Canadian connection, astronaut Jenni Gibbons will serve as CAPCOM — the capsule communicator — speaking to the two astronauts from Mission Control during the spacewalk. The Calgary-born Gibbons was announced in November 2023 as a replacement crew member for her compatriot Jeremy Hansen on the Artemis II mission. She also worked as an astronaut supervisor, responsible for the final configuration of the spacecraft.
Hadfield’s Nostalgic Reflection
Chris Hadfield, who helped install Canadarm2 during his mission, recently took to social media to share his thoughts on the upcoming repair. He compared the robotic arm to “an aging tennis player” and recalled his mission to help install it. The Canadian five-dollar bill commemorates this historic event, and Hadfield noted he had the distinction of unveiling the bill from orbit.
Canadarm2’s Proven Resilience
This is not the first time Canadarm2 has undergone significant repair. The robotic arm previously had both of its end effectors replaced in what was described as a “double hand transplant” carried out in 2017 and 2018. The upcoming procedure follows a similar philosophy of modular replacement that was built into the arm’s original design.
Critical Role Until the End
NASA plans to decommission the space station around 2030, but officials stressed that Canadarm2 will remain an essential part of station operations until the very end. “The arm is critical to our work,” said Bill Spetch, the station’s operations and integration manager.
NASA will stream the spacewalk live on its YouTube channel beginning Tuesday at 6 a.m. ET.
