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Astronauts equip Dextre with toolkit and cameras |
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Written by Derek Kessler on
Friday, 21 March 2008
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 The hard-working astronauts of the Space Shuttle Endeavour and the International Space Station have continued their work on the massive Dextre robot and the Japanese Logistics Pressurized module, both installed on the orbital space station this week. Dextre, built by the Canadian Space Agency, is a multi-handed robot mounted on the end of the ISS's robotic arm that will aid the crew in common repair tasks, negating the need for as many spacewalks. A toolbelt of sorts was attached to the robot and it was mounted to the station's hull, completing its installation.
The specially-built tools installed will enable Dextre to work the latches and locks on the station's exterior, remove and replace bolts, and easily grasp exhausted batteries. The four meter-tall robot also recieved a 2 meter boom that will allow it to hold additional spare parts and tools as it traverses the rail system installed on the outside of the ISS.
Dextre reaches for the sun.
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Dextre also recieved a set of eyes, courtesy of a quartet of color cameras with lights mounted on the robot. The cameras, in addition to smaller cameras mounted on the robot's arms, will allow operators inside the station to see all around the workspace. Dextre can be moved around on the station's robotic Canadarm2, or can be transferred onto its own mobile base to work in tandem with the long-reaching arm.
Astronauts have continued finalizing the installation of the JPL module, connecting power and environmental lines. Along with the module, JAXA astronaut Takao Doi brought along Japanese food, specially formulated for the micro-gravity environment of the space station. The ten astronauts of the ISS and Endeavour crews gathered for a joint meal of Doi's Japanese cuisine, which came complete with traditional chopsticks.
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