Particle.news
Download on the App Store
9 ARTICLES
·
last wk.

Astronauts Replace Faulty Canadarm2 Wrist Joint on the ISS

Engineers will drive the arm through its full range of motion to confirm the on‑station spare fixed the elevated motor‑current fault.

NASA astronaut Chris Williams is pictured outside the International Space Station during a spacewalk to complete the build and installation of a solar array modification kit on March 18, 2026. It was William’s first spacewalk of his career, and the 278th in support of space station maintenance, upgrades, and assembly.
Image
An astronaut anchored to the International Space Station’s Canadarm2 robotic arm above the blue limb of Earth
Image

Overview

  • NASA astronauts Chris Williams and Jessica Meir completed a roughly 6.5‑hour spacewalk on June 30 to remove a malfunctioning Canadarm2 wrist joint and install a spare already aboard the station.
  • The joint first failed during normal operations on May 27 after the arm drew unusually high motor current and did not move as expected.
  • NASA and the Canadian Space Agency reviewed telemetry and chose an EVA to swap the part rather than attempt complex remote troubleshooting.
  • Post‑install checks are under way to drive Canadarm2 through its full range of motion and to look for any secondary issues before managers declare the repair fully successful.
  • Canadarm2 has served the ISS since 2001 and was built with replaceable modules so astronauts can perform routine maintenance, with internal crew members Jack Hathaway and Sophie Adenot supporting the June 30 operation and live coverage available on NASA+ and partner streams.