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Final Flight Of Space Shuttle Endeavour, Canada's Contribution By Eddy Metcalf |
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April 22, 2011 - The final flight of the Space Shuttle
Endeavour is scheduled for April 29, 2011, at 3:47 p.m.
EDT. This is the second-to-last mission before the Space
Shuttle program retires later this year. This flight
will mark Canadarm's 89th mission since it first flew on
Shuttle Columbia for STS-2 in 1981.
Canada's most famous robotic and technological
achievement made its space debut on November 13, 1981.
The design and building of the Shuttle Remote
Manipulator System marked the beginning of Canada's
close collaboration with NASA in manned space flight.
The Canadarm project remains a true example of
successful international space cooperation. Canadarm firmly established Canada's international reputation for robotics innovation and know-how. Its excellent performance record has inspired several generations of scientists and engineers as they develop new technologies for industry, medicine, and other applications. |
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The Express Logistics Carrier 3 will carry several spare parts
for Canadian robots to sustain operations once the Shuttle is
retired from service, including: a spare arm for Dextre, remote
power controller modules (large circuit breaker boxes), and an
arm computer unit (the heart of Canadarm2's computer subsystem).
Other spare parts for Canadian robotics include an additional
grapple fixture, or anchor point, for Canadarm2. The last Canadian science experiment for the Space Shuttle, Hypersole will determine changes in skin sensitivity before and after spaceflight, and whether these changes are related to balance control. Changes in sensitivity will be measured on the foot sole, where skin receptors related to balance and maintaining balance while moving are located. The Principal Investigator for Hypersole is Dr Leah R. Bent of the University of Guelph. Hypersole was first conducted on STS-132 in May 2010. |
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