Feature

Artist's impression of the European Robotic Arm (ERA)

ERA will be able to work with the new Russian airlock, being able to transfer small payloads directly from inside to outside the ISS and vice versa. This will reduce the EVA set-up time for astronauts and allow for cooperative tasks for ERA with astronauts.
 
Another important task for ERA will be to transport astronauts or cosmonauts like a cherry picker crane to the position where they are supposed to perform their work, or from one external location to another. This again saves time and effort during spacewalk activities.

ERA will use its infrared cameras for carrying out inspections of space station external surfaces.

Once ERA reaches the International Space Station (ISS), the Russian Multipurpose Laboratory Module (MLM), on which it is installed during launch, will be the home base from which it operates.

The arm consists of 2 end-effectors, 2 wrists, 2 limbs and 1 elbow joint together with electronics and cameras. Both ends act as either a 'hand' for the robot, or the base from which it can operate.  
 

Utilisation relevant data   Launch configuration     Launched in so called «Charlie Chaplin» configuration with power off Launch vehicle: Proton Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome Launch date: 2011 On-orbit configuration     Attached to different locations on the Russian Multipurpose Laboratory Module

 
 

Specifications   Dimensions   Total length: 11 300 mm Reach: 9 700 mm Tip position accuracy: 5 mm Maximum tip speed: 100 mm/s Mass budget   Launch mass: 630 kg Mission handling capability: 8 000 kg Communications infrastructure     Power, data and video signals cabling and special fixtures on End Effector and Base point. Electrical power   Average operation power: 475 W (120 V dc) Peak operation power: 800 W (120Vdc) Main construction materials   Limb: Carbon fibre tube and aluminum interfaces Wrist, Elbow and End Effector: Composed of many different materials Thermal Protection: Beta Cloth Blankets Main contractor     Dutch Space (Leiden, The Netherlands), leading a consortium of many subcontractors

 
 
Last update: 16 January 2009