Russia collaborates with ESA to commission the European robotic arm of the Space Station

On board the international space stationcooperation continues between Russian cosmonauts and astronauts Americans and Europeans despite the Ukrainian conflict and the statements go to war by Dmitry Rogozin, Director General of Roscosmos. Admittedly, the Russian cosmonauts were forced by their hierarchy to limit certain activities carried out together on board the ISS, but this is more symbolic than operational and in no way affects the security of the orbital complex or limit its operation. In fact, cosmonauts and astronauts continue to work together.

An ongoing cooperation

Proof that the cooperation continues, the three Russians on board the ISS have been authorized to begin the commissioning of the arm robotics ERA from the European Space Agency. Oleg Artemyev, Denis Matveev went into space on April 23 and 28 to unpack the arm by removing the thermal blankets that covered it, and give it a few movements to ensure its proper functioning. ERA unfolded similar to how a human stretches when waking up and briefly moved from point to point under the watch of Sergey Korsakov from inside the Station. Other exits will be necessary to put it into service, one of which should be carried out by Samantha Cristoforettithe astronaut of theESA who has just arrived on board the ISS.

The International Space Station already has two robotic arms, one Canadian and one Japanese. ERA is therefore the third arm in operation on the ISS and the only one designed specifically to work around the Russian segment of the station. With a length of more than 11 meters and a mass of 630 kilos, ERA will be able to move and handle loads of around eight tonnes with an accuracy of only five millimetres.

The release made on April 28 was the fifth since the beginning of the year and the 250^and since the start of the construction of the international space station.

After 15 years of waiting, ESA’s ERA arm will finally reach the Space Station

Article of Remy Decourt published on 07/25/2021

We weren’t expecting it! Initially planned for 2007, the launch of the European arm ERA should take place today. With the scientific laboratory columbus and the Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV), ERA is the third major element of European participation in the ISS programme. Installed on the new Russian Nauka module, also called the Russian Multipurpose Laboratory Module (MLM), it will be dedicated to the Russian segment of the Station, several parts of which are inaccessible to the Canardarm2 arm.

The European Space Agency’s ERA robotic arm, integrated into the Russian Nauka module, was launched on July 21 to the International Space Station (ISS). Very late on its initial schedule – it should have been launched in 2007 – this arm was built by a European consortium, led by Airbus Defense and Space. ERA is vested in Russian segment of the orbital complex in addition to the robotic arm Canadarm2 which cannot access all of this part of the ISS.

As for Nauka, it is a mini-space station. Although designed for experimentation and living and working area for cosmonauts, this module will also serve as a docking port. It also has the particularity of being equipped with a GNC navigation and guidance control system as well as an attitude control system. It can be used as a backup by the ISS and if the Russians decide to separate the Russian part of the ISS, as they have hypothesized, Nauka could be the heart of their future space station. Nauka will be installed on the Zvzeda module, instead of the Pirs module, which will be unstuck from the Russian segment. Pirs was used as an additional mooring port for Soyuz and Progress vehicles, and as a spacewalk for Russian cosmonauts. It will be desorbed by a Progress.

A complementary arm of Canadarm2

Although very different from Canardam2, ERA will be complementary. 11.3 meters long and weighing 680 kilos, it can move very large masses, from three tonnes in routine up to eight tonnes in slow mode. This symmetrical, two-handed arm can move forwards or backwards under its own control along the ISS, from one hand to the other, from one fixed point to another. The Seven joints robust and precise ERA, the light limbs and thecomputer control located in the middle of the arm give the robotic arm its versatility. It will be used to install and replace solar panels, inspect and assemble modules and facilitate the movement of astronauts performing spacewalks. Finally, his cameras infrared will be used to inspect the exterior surface of the station (aging of the protective coatings, impacts of micrometeoritesverification of module attachments, pallets, etc.).

ERA can be controlled from inside or outside the Station, in real time or programmed in advance. With its joints, ERA looks like a kind of human arm. It is operated by motors and cables. It is symmetrical, in the sense that on both sides of the “elbow” there are two “muscles” and two “wrists”. Its extremities are able to hook onto the station, which gives it a large radius of action all around the Russian part. It will move by hooking on one end, then another. Finally, it is equipped with many tools including a platform with footrests and handrails so as to transport astronauts during their extravehicular outings. Among the main strengths of this arm:

• control from the outside using an external control panel;
• interior control using a laptop (without the need for joysticks like the other arms of the ISS);
• pre-programmed operation;
• automated collision avoidance system based on a software ;
• 5mm accuracy.

European astronauts on the move

Thomas Pésquet will perform ERA’s first electrical check. Matthias Maurerwhich is due to join the Station in early November, should take part in a spacewalk to validate the operation in orbit of the ERA arm. Later, ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti who will carry out a new mission on board the ISS at the end of 2022 (Crew-4) will also perform, during a spacewalk, one of the tasks of installation of ERA for Nauka.

European robotic arm Era awaits departure for ISS

Article by Rémy Decourt published on 07/30/2012

Scheduled for 2007, the launch of the Russian multifunction laboratory Nauka (MLM) has been postponed several times and has just been pushed back to 2013. It will be equipped with the European Space Agency’s Era robotic arm, which has been ready for a long years. Philippe Schoonejans, Era project manager, explains to Futura-Sciences the functions assigned to this beautiful mechanism… much awaited.

The Russian announcement to further postpone the launch of the Nauka-moduleon which Era must be fixed (European Robotic Arm), once again forced the European Space Agency to be patient. As Philippe Schoonejans (head of the Era project) confides to Futura-Sciences, “ the Era robotic arm has been ready for launch for a long time “.

This arm is one of the three major contributions of European participation in the construction of international space station. This program was officially launched in November 1995, and its construction was completed at the end of 2004. Since 2008, it has been in Russia. Initially, the program planned to launch by a space shuttle and then, due to the circumstances, the decision was made to send it in November 2007 aboard a Proton with the MLM module. Since then, the launch has been postponed several times to finally be set for December 10, 2013.

Roscosmos having specified its new calendar, “ notWe will prepare Era according to this new launch date “. Concretely, the integration on the Russian module is now scheduled for August 2013 and the whole, that is to say Era backed by the Nauka, will be transferred shortly afterwards to the site of BaikonurKazakhstan.

For Philippe Schoonejans, this ” postponement has no impact on the arm itself “. It is currently stored in conditions that avoid any degradation likely to damage its components “. This postponement will nevertheless cause an additional cost because certain industrial activities “ will be spread over a longer period “. Examples include those related to ” software compliance with Nauka module computers “, in the preparation of the launch or that which consists in ensuring the qualification of the Era arm for a sending by a Russian Proton ” while originally qualified for launch aboard a US Space Shuttle “.

The Russian segment of the ISS needs Era

Despite its late arrival on board the International Space Station, the Era arm must ” expect sustained activity as the robotic arm Canadarm2provided by Canada, does not cover the entire Russian segment of theISS “.

As soon as he arrives, Era will be used as a priority to finish setting up Nauka. So, he ” will install the module heat sink panels more commonly known as radiators, and exit airlock equipment to limit spacewalks for the crew. The Era arm was designed to work with the Russian airlock, so ” astronauts therefore no longer have to venture outside the Space Station to install certain pieces of equipment. Using video cameras, the arm can perform checks outside the Station, it can move experiments and supplies or even serve as a crane for astronauts “.

Finally, he will install the work platform on which the crew members will sit. This clings to the end of the arm and ” allows astronauts to sit there in a standing position to work or be transported “. All these elements are already on board the ISS, stored on the Russian module Rassvet (MRM-1).