WASHINGTON – NASA said Wednesday (March 14) it has successfully demonstrated the ability to repair satellites in orbit using robotic tools.
An experiment about the International Space Station last week demonstrated the ability of Canada’s robotic arm to perform what the space agency called “precise satellite-serving tasks in space.” NASA also touted the demonstration as a milestone for using the space station as a technology test bed.
In a statement, NASA said the Canadian Space Agency’s 12-foot (3.7-meter) Dextre robotic arm was able to repair an external space station module. The experiment demonstrated the ability to use robotic tools to refuel and repair orbiting satellites.
Before launch, technicians pump fuel into satellites through a valve that is then sealed and covered. NASA said the space station experiment that ran from March 7-9 demonstrated that the remote-controlled robotic arm could remove a cover and seal on a space station module similar to those used on satellites.
Canada's Dextre robotic arm on the International Space Station
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