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Canada to Develop Super-Robotic "Canada Hand" for use on the International Space Station
April 8, 1997
Washington, D.C.
Prime Minister Jean Chrétien today announced that Canada
will develop the Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator (SPDM)
-- the "Canada Hand" -- one of the world's most sophisticated
space robots. The Prime Minister made the announcement following
his meeting with U.S. President Bill Clinton in Washington.
The "Canada Hand" will be a key component of the Mobile
Servicing System, Canada's contribution to the International Space
Station, and will be attached to the end of the new generation
"Canadarm" used to assemble and maintain the International
Space Station in orbit. The Space Station, the largest international
scientific project ever undertaken, is being jointly built by
the United States, Canada, Russia, Japan and 10 European countries.
"The development of the "Canada Hand" is intended
to pave the way for a whole new generation of advanced robotic
products with large global markets, creating jobs and opportunities
for Canada," the Prime Minister said.
The Canadian government, through the Canadian Space Agency, will
invest $207 million over the next three years to develop and build
the "Canada Hand". The project will create and maintain
about 2,400 person-years in Canadian high-technology firms. An
even larger impact on Canadian companies is expected as a result
of the development, manufacturing and marketing of commercial
spin-offs from the "Canada Hand" robotic technologies.
Scheduled for launch starting in 1999, the Mobile Servicing System
will also be used to perform various complex repair and maintenance
operations on the outside of the orbiting space station.
The Mobile Servicing System builds on Canada's existing expertise
in advanced robotics such as the Canadarm, the internationally
acclaimed technological achievement, first designed and built
as Canada's contribution to NASA's Space Shuttle program. Subsequent
Canadarm orders have resulted in more than $600 million in Canadian
export sales.
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PMO Press Office (613) 957-5555
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