A helping hand 🤝
Northrop Grumman’s uncrewed Cygnus space freighter is pictured in the sturdy grasp of the Canadarm2, one of the @iss’s three robotic arms. Having delivered more than 8,300 pounds (3,764 kgs) of supplies, scientific investigations, and other cargo to the space station the space freighter is positioned away from the orbiting laboratory. From there, the robotic arm detaches from Cygnus, releasing its grip, allowing the freighter to fall back to Earth and complete its planned self-destruct on re-entry into our atmosphere.
When Canadarm2 isn't bidding farewell to departing spacecraft the robotic arm supports station maintenance, moves supplies, equipment, and even astronauts as well as performs "cosmic catches" by grappling visiting vehicles and berthing them to the ISS.
The 57.7-foot-long (17.58-meters-long) robotic arm is equipped with two identical "hands," known as Latching End Effectors. They allow the robotic arm to firmly grasp objects or latch itself to anchors across the exterior of the orbital outpost. Furthermore, being controlled by a workstation inside the station located within the glass-domed cupula means astronauts can take fewer trips out into space to conduct repairs, freeing up more time to conduct crucial scientific experiments.
Credit: NASA
#NASA #ISS #Space #Spaceship #robot #robotic #Cygnus #SpaceStation #CSA
