ISS robotic arm and transporter become inoperable after recent maneuver

A routine walk-off maneuver performed by crew members on the International Space Station left the 58-foot Canadarm2 and its accompanying mobile transporter immobile. Sources say technicians are examining both software and hardware possibilities to pinpoint the cause. The arm, supplied by the Canadian Space Agency and manufactured by MDA, was launched aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour in April 2001 and has exceeded its intended 15-year service span by more than a decade. Weighing nearly two metric tons, it can handle payloads up to 116 tons and has been essential for docking cargo vehicles such as SpaceX’s first cargo ship, Northrop’s Cygnus, and Japan’s HTV-X. As of Sunday evening, NASA had not issued a public statement regarding the issue.