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Illustration of the MMS, as it will appear fully constructed.
courtesy of NASA |
n December 10, 1998 the first the first steps in the orbital construction of the International Space Station were successfully completed. Since NASA announced the project in the early 1980's (yes, the early 1980's!) it's complexity "Assembling a space station in earth orbit is a bit like putting together a giant Lego set -- except for the extreme temperatures, the vacuum and zero-gravity, of course." |
In February of 1998, Canada based Spar Space Systems won the over $100 million contract to build a Mobile Servicing System. This project will comprise of a Space Station Remote Manipulator System, a Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator (nicknamed the Canada Hand), and a Mobile Base system. The Mobile Servicing System, as a whole, is expected to play a key role in the construction and the maintenance of the International Space Station. More specifically, the system will be responsible for moving equipment and supplies around the station, releasing and grabbing satellites, providing working space for the astronauts, repairing and servicing other instruments on the Space Station, and more. This is one exciting Canadian project that we should all keep an eye open for and be quite proud of.
And here it is in plain English...
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| Illustration courtesy of NASA |
Mobile Servicing System (MSS)
What is it?
The name of the whole system consisting of three subsystems (the SSRMS, SPDM, &, MBS)
Size
17.1 m
Weight
3,800 Kg
Neat Fact
Contract is being carried out in Spar's Brampton, Ontario and Ste. Anne de Bellevue, Quebec facilities.
Expected Hook-up Date
Will be fully functional sometime in the year 2002.
Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS)
What is it?
A bigger, better, smarter Canadarm, the sixth one built for NASA by Spar.
Size
17.6 m fully extended
Weight
1,500 kg
What does it do?
Assists with the docking of the space shuttle, and the movement of large objects like satellites.
Neat Fact
It has 7 motorized joints, and the ability to attach itself to several complementary ports on the International Space Station.
Expected Hook-up Date
December 1999
Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator (SPDM) or what all Canadians should feel obligated to call it, the Canada Hand
What is it?
A two armed robot that will be attached to the end of the SSRMS.
Size
3.5 m
Weight
1,540 kg
What does it do?
Can handle delicate construction and servicing tasks.
Neat Fact
Looks like a giant medical instrument that can cause a lot of harm. Scary.
Expected Hook-up Date
Some time in the year 2002
Mobile Base System (MBS)
What is it?
A platform and storage area set on rails.
Size
5.7 m x 4.5 m x 2.9 m
Weight
1,450 kg
What does it do?
Will allow the Canadarm to move laterally along the International Space station and provide astronauts with a base to work from .
Neat Fact
Can handle 20,900 Kg
Expected Hook-up Date
Sometime in the year 2000
related links and sources
Canadian Space Resource Centre Ontario (English)
Provides space information and resources about Canada's place in space exploration for educators, teachers, students, and the general public. In English and French.
NASA International Space Station
Includes RealTime Station Data: location of it, how to track it down, view footage of the historic ingress of the crew and more.
SpaceNet
Provides information about the Canadian Astronaut Program, the development and highlights of the shuttle's Canadarm and Canada's plans for participating in the International Space Station. Other areas
of space science and technology -- space life sciences, satellites, environmental monitoring and much more -- will be coming on line in the future.
Iram Khan is a B.C. elementary school teacher currently "job-challenged" due to the sorry state of education funding in this country
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