# Space station's robotic arm stops working

> NASA's 25-year-old Canadarm2 has gone silent, raising questions about the aging orbiting lab's future.
- Title: Space station's robotic arm stops working · Ars Technica
- Summary: NASA's 25-year-old Canadarm2 has gone silent, raising questions about the aging orbiting lab's future. The International Space Station's critical robotic arm…
- Keywords: international space station, canadarm2, nasa, robotic arm failure, space station aging, cargo missions, spacex dragon, canadian space agency, mda, orbital operations, technology, science
- Source: Ars Technica — https://arstechnica.com/space/2026/09/nasa-for-the-time-being-is-unable-to-move-the-space-stations-large-robotic-armthe-large-robotic-arm-on-the-international-space-station-has-stopped-working
- Published: 2026-09-28T16:03:50+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: international space station, canadarm2, nasa, robotic arm failure, space station aging, cargo missions, spacex dragon, canadian space agency, mda, orbital operations, technology, science
## Canadarm2 stops moving
After a routine walk-off maneuver, the International Space Station's 58-foot robotic arm and its mobile transporter went silent. NASA is investigating whether the problem is software or hardware.
## A marvel of engineering
Canadarm2, built by Canada's MDA corporation, can move around the space station like an inchworm because both ends are identical. It weighs nearly two metric tons and can handle payloads up to 116 tons.
## Operating well past expiration
Launched in April 2001 on Space Shuttle Endeavour, Canadarm2 was designed to last 15 years. It has now been working for more than a decade beyond that design lifetime.
## Critical for cargo delivery
The arm has been essential for grabbing and berthing cargo vehicles from SpaceX, Northrop, and Japan. Newer Dragon versions dock autonomously, but Cygnus and HTV-X still need the arm.
## Station aging, replacement uncertain
The space station approaches its 30th anniversary with much equipment operating decades beyond design life. NASA plans to replace it with private stations, but that process has struggled.
## What if the arm can't be fixed?
Without the robotic arm, NASA could still operate but with serious difficulty. Moving large hardware for spacewalks would become harder, and cargo missions could face major disruptions.
## Key takeaway

The International Space Station's critical robotic arm has stopped functioning after a routine operation, and NASA doesn't yet know if it's a software glitch or hardware failure.