Full Breakdown
Canadarm2 Malfunction Triggers Planned Spacewalk to Restore ISS Robotic Capability
6/13/2026, 11:36:40 AM
Core Event and Timeline
On 27 May 2024 a wrist joint on the International Space Station’s Canadarm2 showed an elevated motor current and failed to move, halting the arm’s operations. NASA’s 10 June 2024 blog confirmed the issue and scheduled a spacewalk for 30 June 2024—the day before Canada Day—to replace the faulty segment. NASA expects two crew members from Expedition 74—potentially Chris Williams, Jessica Meir, Jack Hathaway, or ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot—to conduct the EVA. A spare joint is already aboard the station. The arm’s last berthing of a Cygnus XL cargo vehicle occurred in April 2024.
Background & Design Philosophy
Canadarm2 entered service in 2001 and marked 25 years of operation in April 2024. Though not originally built for commercial spacecraft arrivals, it performed its 50th “cosmic catch” in 2024 and now operates roughly ten years beyond its design life. The arm’s modular construction—multiple interchangeable segments—allows in-orbit part replacement, a capability demonstrated in a 2017 hand-module repair. The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) pre-positioned spare components on the ISS to address expected wear.
Operational Impact
Canadarm2 captures and berths cargo vehicles, transfers equipment, and conducts maintenance that would otherwise require astronaut EVAs. Its temporary loss threatens timely delivery of food, scientific payloads, and spare parts, and increases crew workload. The arm also supports the Dextre “hand” and other Canadian robotics, reflecting Canada’s contribution to the ISS partnership.
Official Statements & Responses
NASA reported that the wrist joint’s elevated motor current prevented arm motion, prompting a decision to conduct a spacewalk and replace the segment. The agency noted a spare part is already aboard and will hold a news conference to detail the EVA. The CSA emphasized that Canadarm2 was engineered for in-space part replacement, that spare shipments were pre-planned, and cited a successful 2017 repair as precedent.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The system demonstrated an elevated motor current in a wrist joint, and arm motion did not occur as expected,” — NASA officials
- “Canadarm2 was designed with these kinds of potential issues in mind: it is made up of several segments that can be pulled out and replaced in space,” — Canadian Space Agency
- “Knowing that parts would eventually have to be replaced, the CSA planned shipments of key spares to the station well in advance.” — Canadian Space Agency
- “The arm is in a stable spot, but it is awaiting help from spacewalking astronauts on June 30 — the day before Canada Day, a national holiday in that country.” — Space.com report
What’s Next
The EVA is slated for 30 June 2024; NASA will hold a news conference afterward to brief the public. A spare joint will be installed, restoring the arm’s cargo-berthing capability. Canada’s next astronaut, Josh Kutryk, is slated for a SpaceX Crew-13 flight in September, and development of Canadarm3 continues for the Artemis program.
