ISS CanadArm II Immediate Repairs Needed

ISS CanadArm II Immediate Repairs Needed

In late May, 2026, the iconic robotic arm CanadaArm II aboard the International Space Station, malfunctioned & failed to continue operating.

NASA publicly confirmed the issue on June 10, describing it as "elevated motor current in a wrist joint" — an anomaly that forced the agency to halt the arm's operations until repairs could be completed. While the cause is known (elevated current), the repair time is still in the planning stages and subject to change

In 2001 a similar “wrist joint” was replaced by astronauts in orbit during a spacewalk.

Canadarm2 weighs approximately 1,500 kilograms (3300 lbs. and stretches 18 meters (60 feet) in length, featuring numerous joints that give it a full range of motion comparable to a human arm.

Repairing Canadarm2 is considered critical for ISS operations, as the arm is used to grab space capsules full of food and supplies from various countries. In addition, the arm is tasked with routine ISS station maintenance. Without the arm, no supplies can be brought aboard.

June 30 is checked off as repair day by crew members who will wear pressurized EVA space suits in a spacewalk. The astronauts will perform the repair with a spare wrist joint already stored on the ISS for just such emergencies.

 Article: Graham Smith

Image: Courtesy NASA

 #canadianspaceagency #nasa #nasakennedy @emrekelly