Saint-Hubert, Quebec, April 12, 2002 – Marc Garneau, President of the
Canadian Space Agency (CSA) reports that Canadarm2 successfully completed
yesterday’s operations on the International Space Station as planned.
Mission Specialist Ellen Ochoa, assisted by Expedition Four Flight Engineer
Dan Bursch, operated Canadarm2 to lift a major truss segment out and away
from Shuttle Atlantis’ cargo bay and attach it on the Destiny laboratory
module of the International Space Station. Canadarm2 was then used for the
first time to move Mission Specialist Rex Walheim to different worksites
around the newly installed truss segment during the first spacewalk of
mission STS-110, which lasted 7 hours and 48 minutes.

Teams of engineers from the CSA and MD Robotics, prime contractor for
Canadarm2, were closely monitoring the arm’s first major assembly activity
since an anomaly was detected on one of its joints several weeks ago. The
engineers developed a software patch that successfully bypassed the joint in
the arm’s primary channel. In actual fact, Canadarm2’s secondary channel was
used to execute all of yesterday’s operations. “Canadarm2 is a unique and
highly complex robot working in an extremely hostile environment. Problems
are bound to occur and are part of the normal course of space activities.
Thanks to the team of engineers in St. Hubert and Brampton, Canadarm2
operations went smoothly and flawlessly yesterday,” said Garneau.

To return Canadarm2 to full redundancy, a spare joint will be transported to
the Station onboard Mission STS-111, scheduled to launch May 31. On this
mission, two astronauts will replace the malfunctioning wrist roll joint
during a spacewalk. They are currently being trained for this new task. “We
have anticipated this type of situation, that’s why Canadarm2 has been
designed in a way that allows astronauts to replace its parts on orbit
during its lifetime, and why spare components are ready to go at a moment’s
notice, ” added Garneau. Mission STS-111 will also transport the second
major Canadian element to the ISS: the Mobile Base System.
About the Canadian Space Agency

Established in 1989 with its headquarters situated in Saint-Hubert, Quebec,
the Canadian Space Agency co-ordinates all aspects of the Canadian Space
Program. Through its Space Knowledge, Applications and Industry Development
business line, the CSA delivers services involving: Earth and the
Environment; Space Science; Human Presence in Space; Satellite
Communications; Space Technology; Space Qualification Services and
Awareness. The Canadian Space Agency is at the forefront of the development
and application of space knowledge for the benefit of Canadians and
humanity.

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For more information:

Monique Billette

Media Relations Officer

Canadian Space Agency

Telephone: (450) 926-4370

Monique.billette@space.gc.ca