NASA astronauts Repair Canadarm2 Robotic Arm and Complete Spacewalk
·2 mins·
Notaspampeanas
NASA
International Space Station
Expedition 74
Spacewalk
Canadarm2 Robotic Arm
ISS Research
Author
Notaspampeanas
Digging on curiosity and science.
NASA astronauts Chris Williams and Jessica Meir concluded their spacewalk outside the International Space Station at 3:40 p.m. EDT. During the 7-hour, 20-minute spacewalk, Williams and Meir completed their primary objective to remove and replace a wrist joint on the Canadarm2 robotic arm.
NASA astronaut Chris Williams conducted a spacewalk 260 miles above Earth on June 30, 2026, to repair the Canadarm2 robotic arm on the International Space Station. Image credit: NASA+
NASA announced that following the repair by the astronauts, NASA’s Mission Control in Houston powered up Canadarm2 to successfully complete an initial check out the system’s power and data connectivity. Over the coming week, ground controllers also will begin moving the arm as system checkouts continue.
NASA and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) elected to replace the wrist joint after it malfunctioned during normal Canadarm2 operations on May 27 after the arm drew elevated motor current and did not move as expected. Repairs to robotics, like Canadarm2, are normal and expected after more than 25 years of continuous operations, as the system was designed with replaceable components and planned maintenance in mind.
The faulty joint will be returned to Earth to be inspected and refurbished for future use on the robotic arm, if needed.
NASA astronauts Chris Williams and Jessica Meir pictured training for a spacewalk in their spacesuits at NASA’s Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory in Houston, Texas. Image credit: NASA
U.S. Spacewalk 95 was Williams’ second career spacewalk and the fifth for Meir. It also was the 280th spacewalk in support of space station assembly, maintenance, and upgrades.
