Canadarm

Did you know Canada.. we've probably all heard about it and seen pictures of it, but what exactly is it?

The Canadarm is a Shuttle Remote Manipulator System (SRMS). In other words, it is a mechanical arm used on the Space Shuttle to maneuver a payload from the payload bay of the orbiter to its deployment position and then release it.

It can also grapple a free-flying payload, maneuver it to the payload bay of the orbiter and berth it in the orbiter.

It was first used on the second Space Shuttle mission STS-2, launched November 13, 1981.

It was SPAR Aerospace Ltd., a Canadian company, that designed, developed, tested and built the Canadarm.

The Canadarm2 is installed on the International Space Station and has worked in tandem with the Canadarm, developing a "Canadian Handshake".