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ISS Elements: Mobile Servicing System (MSS)
Sources: NASA, CSA
System Description
Related Links
News
Mobile Servicing System Subsystems
Shuttle Robotic Arm vs. Station Robotic Arm
NASA MSS NASA MSS Operations Documents
NASA MSS Interface Control Documents (ICD)
System Description (Source: NASA)
The Mobile Servicing System (MSS) is a robotic system used for space station assembly and maintenance: moving equipment and supplies around the station, supporting astronauts working in space, and servicing instruments and other payloads attached to the space station. The MSS includes facilities on Earth for mission support and astronaut training. Built at a cost of U.S. $896 million (over 20 years)
The MSS is composed of three separate components:
1. Canadarm2, also known by its technical name, the Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS). The SSRMS as part of Canada's contribution to the ISS. The next generation Canadarm is a bigger, better, smarter version of the Space Shuttle's robotic arm. It is 17.6 meters (57.7 feet) long when fully extended and has seven motorized joints. This arm is capable of handling large payloads and assisting with docking the space shuttle. The Space Station Remote Manipulator System, or SSRMS, is self-relocatable with a Latching End Effector, so it can be attached to complementary ports spread throughout the station's exterior surfaces.
The SSRMS is comprised of long composite booms made from PEEK/IM7 (PolyEtherEtherKetone / Carbon fibre) composite, which are manufactured by FRE Composites Inc.
2. The Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator (SPDM), a smaller, highly advanced detachable two-armed robot that can be placed on the end of the space arm. It will perform sophisticated operations including installing and removing small payloads, such as batteries, power supplies and computers.
This robot can also handle tools, such as specialized wrenches and socket extensions, for delicate maintenance and servicing tasks, provide power and data connectivity to payloads, as well as manipulate, remove and inspect scientific payloads. The SPDM is also equipped with lights, video, equipment, a tool platform and four tool holders.
This robot will be able to touch and feel much like humans. It can sense various forces and moments on a payload and, in response, can automatically compensate to ensure payloads are moved smoothly. The SPDM will be controlled by the ISS crew via the Robotic Workstation, and can perform a great many of the tasks that would otherwise require an astronaut to perform during spacewalks.
3. The final component is the Mobile Remote Servicer Base System (MBS), a movable platform for Canadarm2and the SPDM that slides along rails on the Space Station's main truss structure to transport Canadarm2 to various points on the Station, providing lateral mobility for the Canadarm as it traverses the main trusses. It is equipped with four Power Data Grapple Fixtures and a Latching End Effector to hold payloads (or alternatively, the SPDM).
Related Links
Canadarm2 Deployment on the ISS, SpaceRef.TV (Real Player required)
Canadarm2, CSA
Building in space: Canadarm 2, Discovery Channel Canada
Canadarm2, MacDonald Dettwiler Space and Advanced Robotics
Canadarm2 Images & Videos, MacDonald Dettwiler Space and Advanced Robotics
STS-100 Media Handbook, CSA (Acrobat)
NASA/KSC Newsroom Space Station Remote Manipulator System Photograph Archives
News (Source: NASA)
19 April 2001: Combine Chris Hadfield, Two Spacewalks and the Canadarm2 and you get a Great Canadian Mission, SpaceRef
19 April 2001: MacDonald Dettwiler Back in Canadian Control, SpaceRef
18 April 2001: Canadarm2 Ready For Launch, MacDonald Dettwiler
18 April 2001: The Amazing Canadarm2, NASA MSFC
16 April 2001: Le Ministre Brian Tobin Assistera au Lancement de Chris Hadfield et du Canadarm2, CSA
16 April 2001: Lancement du Canadarm2 et de l'Astronaute de l'ASC Chris Hadfield a Board de la Navette Spatiale Endeavour, CSA
16 April 2001: Launch of Canadarm2 and CSA Astronaut Chris Hadfield aboard the Shuttle Endevour, CSA
16 April 2001: Minister Brian Tobin to Attend Launch of Chris Hadfield and Canadarm2, CSA
12 April 2001: STS-100 Web Cast with Marc Garneau, CSA
12 April 2001: Mission STS-100 Activities for Media Leading up to Launch Day, CSA
5 April 2001: Endeavour Launch Set for April 19; Mission Will Expand Human Reach in Space
with Canadian International Space Station Robotics, NASA
Mobile Servicing System Subsystems (Source: NASA)
Technical
Detail | Remote
Manipulator System | Dexterous
Manipulator | Base
System | Arm
Length | 17.6
meters (57.7 feet) | 3.5
meters (11.48 feet) linear stroke | 5.7
meters x 4.5 meters x 2.9 meters
(18.7 feet x 14.76 feet x 9.5 feet) | Mass
(approx.) | 1,800
kilograms
(3,968 pounds) | 1,662
kilograms
(3,664 pounds) | 1,450
kilograms
(3,196.7 pounds) | Mass
Handling/Transportation Capacity | 116,000
kilograms
(255,736 pounds) | 600
kilograms
(1,322.77 pounds) | 20,900
kilograms
(46,076.61 pounds) | Degrees
of Freedom | 7 | 15 | Fixed | Peak
Power (operational) | 2,000
W | 2,000
W | 825
W | Avg.
Power (keep alive) | 435
W | 600
W | 365
W | Applied
Tip Load Range | 0-1,000
N | 0-111
N | N/A | Stopping
Distance (under max. load) | 0.6
meters
(1.96 feet) | 0.15
meters
(5.9 inches) | N/A |
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Shuttle Robotic Arm vs. Station Robotic Arm (Source: NASA)
Detail | Space
Shuttle Robotic Manipulator System
(Canadarm) | International
Space Station Mobile Servicing System (Canadarm 2) | Mission
Profile | Returns
to Earth after every shuttle mission. | Permanently
in space. | Range
of Motion | Reach
limited to length of arm. | Moves
end-over-end to reach many parts of International Space
Station in an inchworm-like movement; limited only by
number of Power Data Grapple Fixtures (PDGFs) on the station.
PDGFs located around the station provide power, data and
video to the arm through its Latching End Effectors (LEEs).
The arm can also travel the entire length of the space
station on the Mobile Base System. |
Fixed
Joint
| Fixed
to the shuttle by one end. | No
fixed end. Equipped with LEEs at each end to provide power,
data and video signals to arm. | Degrees
of Freedom |
6
degrees of freedom.
| Similar
to a human arm: shoulder (2 joints), elbow (1 joint)
and wrists (3 joints). |
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7 degrees of freedom.
| Much
like a human arm: shoulder (3 joints), elbow (1
joint) and wrists (3 joints). However, Canadarm2
can change configuration without moving its hands. |
| Joint
Rotation | Limited
elbow rotation (limited to 160 degrees). |
Full
joint rotation.
| Joints
(7) rotate 540 degrees. | Larger
range of motion than a human arm. |
| Senses | No
sense of touch. |
Force
moment sensors provide a sense of touch.
| Automatic
vision feature for capturing. | Automatic
collision avoidance. |
| Length | 15
meters (49.2 feet) | 17.6
meters (57.7 feet) | Weight | 410.5
kilograms (905 pounds) | 1,800
kilograms (3,968 pounds) | Diameter
(exterior diameter of composite boom) | 33
centimeters (13 inches) | 35
centimeters (13.8 inches) | Mass
Handling Capacity |
29,484
kilograms (65,001 pounds) - design case handling
payload. | Recently
upgraded to 266,000 kilograms (586,429 pounds) |
| 116,000
kilograms (255,736 pounds) - design case handling payload. | Speed
of Operations |
Unloaded:
60 centimeters / second
(1.97 feet / second) | Loaded:
6 centimeters / second
(2.36 inches / second) |
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Unloaded:
37 centimeters / second
(1.21 feet / second) | Loaded:
Station
Assembly - 2 centimeters / second
(2.36 inches / second) | EVA
Support - 15 centimeters / second
(5.9 inches / second) | Orbiter
- 1.2 centimeters / second
(.47 inches / second) |
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| Composition | 16
plies of high modulus carbon fiberóepoxy | 19
plies of high strength carbon fiberóthermoplastic | Repairs | Repaired
on Earth | Designed
to be repaired in space by replacing ORUs (Orbital Replacement
Units). Built-in redundancy. | Control | Autonomous
operation or astronaut control | Autonomous
operation or astronaut control | Cameras | 2
(one on the elbow and one on the wrist) | 4
color cameras (one at each side of the elbow, the other
two on the Latching End Effectors) |
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NASA MSS Operations Documents
International Space Station, Robotics Group, Robotics Book, All Expedition Flights, JSC-48540, April 13, 2001, Mission Operations Directorate, Operations Division [14 MB Adobe Acrobat]
This 541 page documents contains procedures for the operation of the SSRMS robotic system aboard the ISS. It also contains drawings that show Space Vision System (SVS) targets on all ISS elements.
NASA MSS Interface Control Documents (ICD)
Space Station Manned Base (SSMB) to Mobile Servicing System (MSS)
Interface Control Document, SSP 42003 Revision F, May 22, 1997, Part [1] [2] (Adobe Acrobat)
The Space Station provides a Mobile Servicing System (MSS) to assist in the assembly and
external maintenance of the Space Station. The MSS is used to transport hardware and payloads
about the Space Station and support Extravehicular Activity (EVA) operations. This Interface Control Document (ICD) defines and controls the interfaces between the Space Station and the Mobile Servicing System. Included in this ICD are drawings, physical specifications, environmental requirements, and mechanical and electrical interfaces between EVA systems and other ISS systems.
Mobile Servicing System (MSS) to User (Generic) Interface Control Document, May 22, 1997, SSP 42004 Revision E, Part [1] [2] (Adobe Acrobat)
This Interface Control Document (ICD) defines and controls the physical and functional
interfaces which shall be provided by the Mobile Servicing System (MSS) for users. Included in this ICD are drawings, physical specifications, environmental requirements, and mechanical and electrical interfaces between EVA systems and other ISS systems.
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