Canadarm2 to capture cargo ship as Canadian science continues
Credit: NASA
On , SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft will launch from Cape Canaveral aboard a Falcon 9 rocket, destined for the International Space Station (ISS).
Three days later, European Space Agency astronaut Luca Parmitano and NASA's Jessica Meir will use Canadarm2 to capture the unpiloted vehicle. Robotics flight controllers will then berth it to the Station, where it is expected to remain for about a month.
The resupply mission includes equipment for ongoing Canadian heart study Vascular Aging:
two glucose test kits, which help researchers measure insulin resistance in space; and
three Bio-Monitor smart shirts, part of an innovative Canadian-made system that simplifies scientific data collection by easily tracking astronaut vital signs in space.
The upcoming cosmic catch marks a return to more typical activities for the 17-metre-long robotic arm. During recent spacewalks to repair the ISS's cosmic particle detector, Canadarm2 served as a support for Parmitano, who was anchored to Canadarm2's foot restraint. Throughout the operations, Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen guided the spacewalkers from the Mission Control Center in Houston.
Live coverage of Dragon's launch will be available on NASA TV on , beginning at 12:00 p.m. ET. Rendezvous and capture operations will also be broadcast on , starting at 4:30 a.m. ET.
New Canadian studies selected for International Space Station research
Credit: Canadian Space Agency/NASA
The Canadian Space Agency recently awarded funding to Canadian researchers to study the effects of space flight on the human body. The results of the studies could help support longer missions to more distant destinations like the Moon or Mars.
List of study topics, researchers and institutions and the funding
Researchers and institutions
Study topic
Funding
Dr. Richard Hughson, University of Waterloo
Long-term health consequences of cardiovascular changes caused by space flight
Up to $881,020 over six years
Dr. Stephen Boyd, University of Calgary
Using 3D high-resolution imaging to determine how space flight changes bone structure and strength
Up to $870,618 over six years
Dr. Santiago Costantino, Université de Montréal and the Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital
Dr. Mark Lesk, Université de Montréal and the Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital
Rigidity of astronauts' eyes as a risk factor for vision changes experienced during space flight
Up to $478,204 over five years
In a first for Canadian science on board the International Space Station, the Canadian experiments led by Dr. Hughson and Dr. Boyd will have the unique opportunity to study astronauts taking part in year-long missions – twice the length of standard stays aboard the orbiting laboratory. These investigations will work on the forefront of space science, as the biological effects of longer missions in microgravity are not yet well understood.
The third study, led by Dr. Santiago Costantino, will take a closer look at the causes of vision changes sometimes experienced by astronauts during six-month missions.
The trio of investigations were selected through NASA's Human Exploration Research Opportunities program. Recruitment of astronaut participants is expected to begin in spring .
Canadarm2 set to catch Cygnus resupply ship
Credit: NASA
On , Northrop Grumman's Cygnus cargo ship will launch from Wallops Island, Virginia, on a resupply mission to the International Space Station (ISS).
Two days later, NASA astronauts Christina Koch and Jessica Meir will perform a cosmic catch using Canadarm2 to capture the unpiloted vehicle. Working jointly from Canadian Space Agency headquarters in Longueuil and at Johnson Space Center in Houston, robotics flight controllers will then berth it to the Station.
The resupply ship is scheduled to remain in space for over two months, as the crew continues important scientific investigations unfolding aboard the orbiting laboratory.
The spacecraft heads to the Station amidst a campaign of spacewalks. Astronauts ventured outside the Station three times in to install new lithium-ion batteries and replace a failed battery charge/discharge unit. The component was swapped out by Koch and Meir in the first ever all-female spacewalk conducted on the ISS. More spacewalks are planned to occur before the end of the year.
Coverage of Cygnus's launch will be available on NASA TV on , beginning at 9:30 a.m. ET.
Capture operations will also be broadcast on , beginning at 4:15 a.m. ET (capture scheduled to take place around 5:45 a.m. ET).
Canadarm2 to help astronauts catch cargo ship and install new ISS batteries
Credit: NASA
On , the Japanese H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV) will head to the International Space Station loaded with equipment, including new batteries to upgrade the orbiting laboratory's power system.
Four days later, NASA astronauts Christina Koch and Andrew Morgan will perform a cosmic catch, using Canadarm2 to capture the unpiloted cargo ship. Robotics controllers on the ground will then berth it to the Station's Harmony module.
After the high-flying manoeuvre, Canadarm2 will unload six new lithium-ion batteries and adapter plates. This new set will replace a dozen of the Station's nickel-hydrogen batteries that store electrical energy essential to its daily operations.
The replacement operations will be a unique combination of robotic and human collaboration. Robotics controllers will command Dextre to unlatch one of the fastening bolts on each new battery as Canadarm2 positions the new set near the worksite. The batteries will then be swapped out and manually connected by astronauts performing a series of spacewalks.
Live coverage of the HTV's launch begins on at 11:30 a.m. ET on NASA TV. The rendezvous and capture operations will also be broadcast on at 5:45 a.m. ET.
Canadian space robot Dextre to expand ability to refuel satellites and spacecraft in orbit
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A computer animation of Dextre, Canada's robotic handyman on the International Space Station (ISS), performing some of the operations for NASA's Robotic Refueling Mission 3. (Credit: Canadian Space Agency)
From to , Dextre, Canada's robotic handyman on the ISS, will conduct a demonstration of how robots could refuel satellites and spacecraft to extend their useful lifetimes.
NASA's Robotic Refueling Mission 3 (RRM3) will use Dextre's proven ability to perform highly delicate tasks on the International Space Station, to test the hardware and procedures needed to store and transfer cryogenic fluids.
These fluids, which include liquid methane and hydrogen, are vital to the future of space exploration because they are used as coolant and fuel by satellites and spacecraft.
Being able to robotically refill these gases in liquid form while in orbit would enable longer exploration missions farther from Earth. For example, water available on the Moon could be chemically split into liquid hydrogen – the basis for rocket fuel – and liquid oxygen, which could replenish reserves of breathable air as astronaut crews travel to more distant destinations.
Working with cryogenic fluids in microgravity requires precision, as they:
must be kept at very low temperatures to avoid easy evaporation
would be in limited supply in remote places like the Moon or Mars
Robotics flight controllers on the ground will operate Dextre during RRM3 operations using tools specially designed for the test. Dextre aced previous phases of the mission between and , which included the installation of the payload itself followed by the demonstration of tasks including cap removal, wire cutting, and valve-opening – all on a mock satellite the size of a washing machine fitted with various satellite-like interfaces.
For more updates on Canadian robotics operations, follow the Canadian Space Agency on social media.
Canadarm2 gears up for a cosmic catch as Dragon resupplies Space Station
Credit: NASA
On , SpaceX's unpiloted cargo ship Dragon will head to the International Space Station (ISS) after launching from Cape Canaveral aboard a Falcon 9 rocket.
Two days later, NASA astronauts Nick Hague and Christina Koch will use Canadarm2 to capture the vehicle and berth it to the Station.
Astronauts on board the orbiting laboratory will unpack Dragon's pressurized cargo, which includes two Canadian elements:
a data recorder and battery unit for the Bio-Monitor, a Canadian smart shirt system designed to record astronauts' vital signs around the clock
glucose testing strips for Vascular Aging, a new Canadian study taking a closer look at the development of arterial stiffness and insulin resistance among astronauts in orbit
Robotics controllers on the ground will use Dextre, the Station's two-armed robot, to unload the ship's trunk, extracting an important payload known as an International Docking Adapter (IDA) that will expand the ability of commercial vehicles to dock to the Station.
The installation of the IDA will be a collaborative effort between Dextre and ISS crew. The Canadian robot will position the IDA, and a pair of astronauts will venture outside the Space Station to finalize the IDA's electrical connections.
Dragon is scheduled to remain berthed to the Station for about a month. The vehicle will return to Earth with scientific cargo, including air, breath, and blood samples collected for MARROW, a Canadian study designed to measure fat changes in the bone marrow before and after astronauts spend six months in microgravity.
Coverage of Dragon's launch will be available on NASA TV on , beginning at 5:45 p.m. ET.
Canadarm2's capture of the vehicle will also be broadcast on .
David Saint-Jacques tops off space mission with flurry of Canadian science
Credit: Canadian Space Agency/NASA
Since his arrival on the International Space Station (ISS) in , Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut David Saint-Jacques has participated in hundreds of science experiments on board the orbiting laboratory.
The Canadian astronaut will take part in a variety of activities, including:
Filling out a questionnaire for At Home in Space, Canada's first psychosocial study in orbit that examines how crewmembers adapt to being away from home in an often stressful space environment
Setting up the Bio-Analyzer, a Canadian technology that can quickly test different body fluids such as blood, saliva, and urine
Finalizing the configuration of the Bio-Monitor, a Canadian smart shirt system that seamlessly measures astronauts' vital signs around the clock
Collecting blood, breath, and air samples for MARROW, a study that measures spaceflight-related changes in bone marrow and the blood cells it produces
Collecting a blood sample, performing ultrasounds, and undergoing continuous blood pressure monitoring for Vascular Echo, the second in a series of Vascular studies aiming to deepen our understanding of the effects of microgravity on the cardiovascular system
Placing and retrieving bubble monitors designed to detect neutron radiation, for Radi-N2, a Canadian experiment that could help develop countermeasures to health risks for future space explorers on long-duration missions
For more updates, follow David Saint-Jacques and the CSA on social media.
Canadian space robotics ace critical procedure to restore full power to the ISS
Dextre during replacement operations on . The failed electrical unit is visible at the bottom of the image. (Credit : NASA)
A swift international effort resulted in the successful completion of a critical robotics operation that saw Canadarm2 and Dextre restore full power to the International Space Station (ISS) in the early hours of .
Three days earlier, on , the failure of an electrical component known as a Main Bus Switching Unit (MBSU) caused an outage of approximately 25% of the Station's power.
An international team, including the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), NASA and MDA robotics specialists, worked quickly and diligently to plan how Canadarm2 and Dextre would remove the failed unit and install a spare.
The power failure had no immediate impact on the ISS's crew, who connected jumper cables to reroute electrical power to science experiments and other hardware inside the orbiting laboratory.
This intensive operation marks only the second time this type of unit has been replaced robotically. The accelerated achievement – completed in a record-setting 72 hours – was made possible by applying invaluable expertise gained two years ago. A previous replacement required around-the-clock work lasting three times longer, a total of almost 10 days.
Without Canadian space robotics, the recent failure would likely have required an unscheduled spacewalk, a complex activity that pulls astronauts away from their core task of conducting science in microgravity.
The successful operation also paves the way for the launch of the Dragon cargo vehicle, which will be captured on by Canadarm2, controlled by David Saint-Jacques. It will be the first time a CSA astronaut performs a "cosmic catch."
David Saint-Jacques to capture a Dragon spacecraft with Canadarm2
Credit : NASA
SpaceX's Dragon cargo ship is scheduled to launch to the International Space Station on . It will blast off from Cape Canaveral aboard a Falcon 9 rocket.
Two days later, Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut David Saint-Jacques, assisted by NASA astronaut Nick Hague, will use Canadarm2 to capture the vehicle.
It will mark the first time that a CSA astronaut uses the Canadian robotic arm to perform a "cosmic catch," and the 35th time that the 17-metre-long arm grapples a free-flying vehicle.
Astronauts inside the Station will then unload Dragon's pressurized cargo, which includes 1.2 million tomato seeds sent to space as part of the Canadian Tomatosphere educational project.
Dragon is scheduled to stay at the Station for approximately one month. It will return the tomato seeds to Earth for students to grow as part of an educational science experiment to measure and compare the seeds' growth. The Dragon vehicle will also deliver blood and air samples for MARROW, a Canadian experiment that studies space-related changes to astronauts' bone marrow.
Coverage of Dragon's launch will be available on NASA TV on , beginning at 2:30 a.m. ET.
Capture operations will be broadcast on the CSA's YouTube channel on , beginning at 6:40 a.m. ET (capture scheduled to take place around 7 a.m. ET).
Anne McClain and David Saint-Jacques to use Canadarm2 to catch spaceship loaded with Canadian cargo
Credit: NASA
On , Northrop Grumman's Cygnus resupply ship will launch from Wallops Island, Virginia, on a cargo resupply mission heading to the International Space Station (ISS).
Two days later, NASA astronaut Anne McClain and Canadian Space Agency astronaut David Saint-Jacques will control Canadarm2 to perform a "cosmic catch" – capturing the free-flying vehicle as both spacecraft orbit Earth at approximately 28,000 km/h.
While McClain pilots the robotic arm, Saint-Jacques will act as co-pilot by continually monitoring the status of the arriving ship. A Canadian flight controller will be part of the ground team overseeing the robotics operation from NASA's Mission Control Center in Houston, Texas.
Loaded with hundreds of kilograms of supplies, this Cygnus mission includes important Canadian cargo:
Bio-Analyzer, a device that will reduce the need to freeze samples on board the ISS by analyzing blood, urine or saliva right on board the Station
Bio-Monitor smart shirts and sample collection kits that will be used to gather data for Vascular Aging, a new Canadian health study that takes a closer look at arterial stiffening and insulin resistance in astronauts
Canadian-made food for the crew, including smoked salmon, maple cream cookies, mushroom and cheese risotto, and bison chili (a meal based on David Saint-Jacques' favourite family recipe)
Cygnus is expected to remain berthed to the orbiting laboratory until the end of July.
The launch will be broadcast on NASA TV on starting at 4:15 p.m. ET. Coverage of the capture operations will begin on at 4:00 a.m. ET.
Canadian Space Agency astronaut David Saint-Jacques successfully completes spacewalk
The pair relocated a battery adapter plate and connected electrical cables, establishing an alternate path of power to the Station's robotic arm, Canadarm2.
The astronauts also upgraded the Station's wireless communications system and installed structural equipment in preparation for an external science platform.
After donning their spacesuits, Saint-Jacques and McClain ventured outside the airlock at 7:31 a.m. ET as the Station passed over Chile. They concluded their spacewalk and returned inside the orbiting laboratory at 2:00 p.m. ET.
It was the 216th spacewalk in the history of the ISS. Prior to Saint-Jacques, the last CSA astronaut to participate in a spacewalk was Dave Williams on , during Mission STS-118.
A recording of the spacewalk is available on the CSA's YouTube channel.
Canadian ISS research and technology highlighted in "International Space Station Benefits for Humanity" book
Credit: NASA
In over 18 years of continuous human habitation, the Station has been the scene of more than 2,500 research experiments. The third edition of the book, "International Space Station Benefits for Humanity," highlights some of this science, including a number of Canadian contributions:
neuroArm, IGAR and Modus V, medical devices inspired by Canadian space robotics
CCISS and the Vascular series, Canadian cardiovascular studies performed in orbit
TriDAR docking guidance technology, developed by Canadian company Neptec
The book is a product of the ISS Program Science Forum, made up of senior science representatives across the ISS international partnership, which includes the Canadian Space Agency, European Space Agency, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, Russian State Space Agency Roscosmos, Italian Space Agency, and NASA.
Canadian Space Agency astronaut David Saint-Jacques to perform his first spacewalk
The pair will undertake an estimated seven-hour-long operation, beginning with the relocation of a battery adapter plate, followed by an upgrade to the ISS's wireless communications system.
Saint-Jacques and McClain will also connect jumper cables along the midpoint of the Station's main truss, which features the rail system used by Canadian robotics to access several ISS worksites.
Connecting these electrical cables will provide an alternate path of power to Canadarm2, the 17-metre-long arm that plays a crucial role in the maintenance of the orbiting laboratory.
Finally, the astronauts will install structural equipment for an upcoming external platform designed to hold science experiments.
A briefing on the spacewalk operations will be broadcast on the Canadian Space Agency's YouTube channel on at 2 p.m. ET.
Live coverage of the spacewalk will be available on the Canadian Space Agency's YouTube channel on starting at 6:30 a.m. ET. Saint-Jacques and McClain are expected to exit the Station's airlock at approximately 8:20 a.m. ET.
Pair of spacewalks planned to complete installation of new International Space Station batteries
Credit: NASA
On , NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nick Hague will perform a spacewalk on the exterior of the International Space Station (ISS).
A week later, Hague will be joined by NASA's Christina Koch; the pair will finalize the installation of the Station's new lithium-ion batteries.
Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut David Saint-Jacques will lend a hand, helping the spacewalkers don the white suits designed to protect them from the harsh environment of space.
The new batteries arrived at the ISS aboard the Japanese H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV) in .
In the days before each spacewalk, flight controllers in Houston and at CSA headquarters in Longueuil, Quebec, will use Dextre to robotically swap a dozen of the original nickel-hydrogen batteries for six new ones.
Canadarm2 and Dextre will help monitor operations during the spacewalks, as the astronauts manually connect the adapter plates and electrical wiring.
A briefing on the spacewalk operations will be broadcast on NASA TV on at 2:00 p.m. ET.
Live coverage of the spacewalks will be available on the Canadian Space Agency's YouTube channel on starting at 6:30 a.m. ET and starting at 6:30 a.m. ET.
Multilateral Coordination Board Joint Statement
Credits: NASA, Alberto Bertolin, Bradley Reynolds
The International Space Station (ISS) Multilateral Coordination Board (MCB), which oversees the management of the ISS, met on . Its membersFootnote 1 acknowledged the recent 20th anniversary of the launch of the first ISS module and celebrated the success of the ISS partnership. This international team has not only built the space station and risen to the challenges of its day-to-day dynamic operation, but – most importantly – delivered tangible benefits to humanity.
Important outcomes of the ISS include both new scientific knowledge and technical innovation. These advancements address sustainable development here on Earth and help preparations to extend human presence further into our Solar System. The MCB highlighted the fact that more than 100 countries have now used the space station for research or education. Furthermore, representatives noted with satisfaction that the ISS is nurturing a growing economy in Low Earth Orbit research, business and services.
Looking beyond the ISS, the MCB recalled the historic achievement almost fifty years ago of the first human landing on the Moon. It reviewed the extensive work carried out by the ISS partners to study concepts for extending human exploration to the Moon and subsequently to Mars. Emphasising the importance of affordable and sustainable exploration, the MCB discussed their common interest in deploying a human outpost in the lunar vicinity as the next step. Known as the Gateway, it will serve as a way station one thousand times more distant from Earth than today's ISS, to support exploration of the lunar surface.
Within a broader open architecture for human lunar exploration, the MCB acknowledged the Gateway as a critical next step. The Gateway will support human and robotic access to the lunar surface, and build invaluable experience needed for the challenges of later human missions to Mars. The unique location of the Gateway will offer a platform for important scientific discovery in a deep space environment very different from that of the ISS and enable lunar surface exploration. Its special orbit will also provide excellent visibility of both the Earth and the Moon's surface for communications relay purposes. It will stimulate the development of advanced technologies, expand the emerging space economy, and continue to leverage the societal benefits of space exploration for citizens on Earth. Gateway will ultimately enable international and commercial partners to participate in human exploration, research and technology development and will be foundational for establishing a sustained human presence around and on the Moon.
Following several years of extensive study among the agencies culminating in a successful technical assessment, the MCB endorsed plans to continue the Gateway development. It welcomed each agency's intention to proceed toward their respective stakeholders' approval and funding processes for providing specific elements, modules, and capabilities to the Gateway and associated benefits based on a common concept (see Graphic entitled Gateway configuration concept).
The MCB welcomed with enthusiasm Canada's announcement on , that it would participate in the Gateway and contribute advanced robotics, making the Canadian Space Agency the first partner agency to join NASA in the Gateway.
Finally, recalling the ambition and far-sighted decisions that led to the success of both Apollo and the ISS, MCB members affirmed their common hope that the Gateway should secure new achievements in the field of space exploration, serve as the next step on a sustainable path to the Moon and beyond, and inspire the next generation as a future success of international cooperation in science and technology.
Canadian astronaut David Saint-Jacques to monitor SpaceX's Crew Dragon as it arrives at the International Space Station
Credit: SpaceX
On , SpaceX will launch its Crew Dragon spacecraft on a test flight, known as Demo-1, to the International Space Station.
One day later, Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut David Saint-Jacques and NASA astronaut Anne McClain will perform a visual inspection of Demo-1's unassisted docking manoeuvre upon its arrival. Saint-Jacques will then be the first astronaut to enter the docked spacecraft.
Launched from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the uncrewed spacecraft will carry about 180 kilograms of supplies and equipment to the Station, where the vehicle will remain docked for five days. On and , robotics controllers on the ground will use Canadarm2's cameras to inspect the exterior of the capsule.
The arrival and docking of commercial crew vehicles aboard the Station represent an important historical milestone for human spaceflight and for NASA's Commercial Crew Program.
Coverage of launch (, 2:00 a.m. ET), rendezvous and docking (, 3:30 a.m. ET), and hatch opening (, 8:30 a.m. ET) will be available on NASA TV.
On , 10:35 a.m. ET, the Crew Dragon Welcoming Ceremony will be broadcast on the CSA's YouTube channel.
