Robot Works on Repairs While ISS Astronauts Sleep

By Nancy Atkinson - September 8, 2011 at 12:14 AM UTC | Space Exploration

If it turns out that astronauts do have to leave the International Space Station unmanned, at least Dextre, the Canadian Space Agency's robotic handyman, will be there to take care of things until humans return. Above is a sped-up video showing the work done recently by Dextre, replacing a faulty circuit-breaker box outside the station. Curiously, the robot did most of this work while the astronauts inside were sleeping. Imagine, dozing peacefully inside your sleep station and hearing a knocking sound outside the module….

Dextre was operated from the ground by robotics flight controllers in Houston at Johnson Space Center, with support from several teams of engineers both in Houston and at the Canadian Space Agency's headquarters in Saint-Hubert, Quebec.

"The successful replacement of an electrical circuit breaker on the space station's truss is an important operational milestone," said Lead Expedition 28 Flight Director, Ed Van Cise. "In the past, we've only had the option of sending humans outside the station on a spacewalk to perform such repairs. Having a dexterous robot outside the station capable of doing this while controlled from the ground is a big advance in capability that will free up crew time for important research inside the station. Our Flight Control Teams in Houston and in Canada have outdone themselves, and we're looking forward to stretching Dextre's arms on other tasks that will continue to help pave the way for future exploration."

Dextre also moved two small storage pallets in preparation for a test of the Robotic Refueling Mission (RRM), Dextre's first research and development project to test the technologies and techniques necessary to refuel satellites in flight.

The robotic handyman has more tasks scheduled, and will remain on-call for duty if any other issues arise.

Can't help but thinking: "Open the pod bay door Dextre, er, Hal."

Sources:

CSA,

NASA

Nancy Atkinson

Nancy Atkinson

Nancy Atkinson is a space journalist and author with a passion for telling the stories of people involved in space exploration and astronomy. She is currently retired from daily writing, but worked at Universe Today for 20 years as a writer and editor. She also contributed articles to The Planetary Society, Ad Astra (National Space Society), New Scientist and many other online outlets.

Her 2019 book, "Eight Years to the Moon: The History of the Apollo Missions,” shares the untold stories of engineers and scientists who worked behind the scenes to make the Apollo program so successful, despite the daunting odds against it. Her first book “Incredible Stories From Space: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Missions Changing Our View of the Cosmos” (2016) tells the stories of 37 scientists and engineers that work on several current NASA robotic missions to explore the solar system and beyond.

Nancy is also a NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador, and through this program, she has the opportunity to share her passion of space and astronomy with children and adults through presentations and programs. Nancy's personal website is nancyatkinson.com