Kyelan S.

CANADARM: The Great Space Exploration Contributor

Kyelan S.
Richmond Regional Heritage Fair
Richmond, BC

The Canada arm is a giant, super strong robotic arm also known as the shuttle remote manipulator system that helped build the international space station. Canadarm also helps move large pieces for the astronauts that are too heavy for them it has been a helping hand in space for over 30 years. Canadarm has many roles including capturing and deploying satellites and acting as a mobile crane and platform to lift and transport astronauts during risky spacewalks. It is also used for heat shield inspections, and was paired with the Orbiter Boom Sensor System (OBSS) to scan the exterior of the shuttle for any signs of damage prior to re-entry. 

In the 1970s, Canada was having a bit of a bad weather storm—but not with snow—with money and policies. The people were worried about the future, then Canada built Canadarm which made the whole world realize that Canadians were some of the best robot builders on the planet. It took a good team of smart Canadian inventors from the Canadian space agency and NASA. After it was built in Ontario Canada, it was then sent on its first mission on November 13, 1981. It was a good day for the Canadian space agency and NASA! Canadarm works similar to a human arm, it has a shoulder, elbow and joints. Astronauts move the Canadarm using a joystick with the help of computers. Some people might compare it to playing a giant expensive video game. Canadarm even did all the dirty work in space like picking up broken down satellites that were floating around in orbit. Before Canadarm people didn’t think of Canada as much of a space leader. The arm changed everything. It’s so good at its job that it became a national hero. That’s why you can even see it on the back of the Canadian five dollar bill. 

How does Canadarm support missions beyond earth? 

The Canadarm supports missions beyond earth by capturing, deploying, and repairing satellites, it also helped with assembling the international space station by helping lift and maneuver large heavy pieces and safely guiding small parts into place. The Canadarm also helps astronauts by acting as a platform they can clip onto when doing repairs and help them to move around safely during spacewalks. Without the Canadarm many missions would have been unsuccessful. Since 1981 the Canadarm has been a huge helping hand in space for Canada and NASA.

What sources and evidence did you consult for your project? What different perspectives did they provide on your topic?

For my project I used several different sources that gave evidence such as facts, pictures, videos, and information about space missions that showed how the Canadarm was used and why it was important. To name a few, Canadian Space agency explained Canada's role, NASA showed how astronauts used the Canadarm, Wikipedia gave dates and background information, and videos helped me understand how it worked. 

What is the historical significance of your topic?

The Canadarm is historically important because it helped astronauts do important jobs in space, it helped build the International Space Station, and made Canada famous for space robotics. 

In the short term, the Canadarm made space missions safer and more successful. In the long term, it changed how astronauts work in space and helped Canada become a leader in space robotics. 

The Canadarm affected astronauts, scientists, and space agencies by making space missions safer and more successful. It changed space exploration by increasing the use of robotics and helping countries work together on projects like the International Space Station.

Why did you choose this topic? 

I chose the Canadarm for my Canadian heritage project because I am interested in learning about space, when I read about the Canadarm I thought it sounded interesting and it looked very cool, like a space crane!