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Astronauts install Japanese lab, assemble giant robot |
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Written by Derek Kessler on
Sunday, 16 March 2008
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 The astronauts aboard the International Space Station and the space shuttle Endeavour have been hard at work since the shuttle docked with the station on Thursday. They have already attached the first segment of a massive Japanese laboratory and are busy assembling the Canadian Space Agency's dexterous robot, Dextre.
They astronauts used both the robot arms of the ISS and Endeavour to maneuver the Japanese Logistics Pressurized module into place. The 9 ton module is the first of three segments that will be combined to create JAXA's large Kibo Laboratory. The JLP was attached at the end of the Harmony Node.
Their attention then turned to Dextre. Unlike most of the deliveries to the ISS, the giant robotic arm was simply too big to be launched intact. So in addition to the JLP installation, the astronauts have to assemble Dextre before it can be used. Through the assembly, the astronauts have been puzzled by the failure of a warming cable that runs through the entire robot. The 'hands' of Dextre each weigh 52 kg and the arms 300 kg.
The failure of the warming cable caused the robot's software to not route any power to the electric motors. Engineers on the ground tried uploading new software to the robot, but even with the new commands it failed to power up. After further studies in orbit, they determined that the cable actually was transferring power, but it was not relaying data to and from the control computer. The problem was solved by grappling the robot onto the ISS's Canadarm - power miraculously flowed and the robot came alive like an orbital version of Frankenstein's monster.
Having solved the Dextre problem, the astronuats returned to the JPL to complete installation. ISS commander Peggy Whitson opened the module's hatch, along with Endeavour astronauts Takao Doi (from JAXA) and Rick Linnehan. With the opening of the hatch, Japan's position in the ISS program was solidified, marking the first time that the 15-nation project has had full on-orbit participation (Roskosmos, NASA, ESA, CSA, and JAXA).
Endeavour will remained docked with the ISS until the 26th of this month in order to complete construction of the JLP and Dextre. The 16-day mission is the longest ever space shuttle mission. Once the construction work is complete, Endeavour will return to Earth with French astronaut Leopold Eyharts, having traded him off the ISS for NASA's Garrett Reisman.
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