‘Just in time for Canada Day’: Spacewalking astronauts repair space station’s huge Canadarm2

Two NASA astronauts gave a robotic arm a hand up — or rather, a replacement wrist joint — during a successful spacewalk outside the International Space Station on Tuesday (June 30). Chris Williams and Jessica Meir, both flight engineers on the station's Expedition 74 crew, spent seven hours and 20 minutes repairing the Canadarm2 remote manipulator system (RMS) after it was observed drawing current but not moving as expected in late May. The 58-foot-long (18 meters) arm has been in regular use since it was installed on the orbiting outpost in April 2001. "For over 25 years, the Canadarm2 has been a crucial part of the International Space Station . The arm was key to our orbiting laboratory and continues to be a workhorse that we rely on. Whether it is performing maintenance or replacing equipment, moving and operating payloads, catching cargo vehicles or helping us out during spacewalks , the arm has played and will continue to play an essential role in our work on orbit," Williams said as the spacewalk ended. Expedition 74 flight engineer Chris Williams peaks out from behind the International Space Station's Canadarm2 robot arm during a spacewalk on Tuesday, June 30, 2026. (Image credit: NASA) "It is also a testament to international cooperation," he added. "Canada, the U.S. and the world have come together to make this program a success. …