NASA, for the time being, is unable to move the space station's large robotic arm

Just a flesh wound NASA, for the time being, is unable to move the space station’s large robotic arm NASA isn’t saying much. The problem may be temporary.

62 The Canadarm2 robotic arm attaches the BEAM module to the International Space Station. Credit: NASA The Canadarm2 robotic arm attaches the BEAM module to the International Space Station. Credit: NASA Text settings Story text Size Small Standard Large Width * Standard Wide Links Standard Orange * Subscribers only Learn more Minimize to nav Recently, the astronauts on board the International Space Station performed a routine “walk-off” maneuver with the large, 58-foot-long robotic arm attached to the orbiting laboratory.

The robotic arm, known as Canadarm2 because it was supplied by the Canadian Space Agency, is something of a modern engineering miracle—it can effectively move around the exterior of the large space station like an inchworm because both ends are essentially identical.