Grapple fixture#Power and Data Grapple Fixture

The fixtures allowed the Space Shuttle's Canadarm (also known as the Shuttle Remote Manipulator System, or SRMS) to safely grapple large objects (e.g. ISS components, or satellites e.g. HST).

They currently do the same for the International Space Station's Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) (also known as Canadarm2) and the Japanese Experiment Module Remote Manipulator System (JEMRMS).{{cite web|title=JAXA HTV-1 Mission Press Kit|url=https://iss.jaxa.jp/en/htv/mission/htv-1/presskit/htv-1_presskit.pdf|page=19|access-date=November 13, 2022|publisher=JAXA}}

The grapple fixtures are flat in appearance, with a central grapple pin topped with a sphere which the snares in the end of the arms latch on to. They use three "ramps" that help guide the robotic arm correctly onto the grapple fixture.[http://is.mdacorporation.com/mdais_canada/Offerings/Offerings_Canadarm2lee.aspx CanadaArm2 End Effector] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121005052740/http://is.mdacorporation.com/mdais_canada/Offerings/Offerings_Canadarm2lee.aspx |date=2012-10-05 }}

The North American grapple fixture was developed at Spar Aerospace in the 1970s. Its invention is credited to Frank Mee, who also invented the Canadarm end effector for the Space Shuttle.{{cite book|last=Dotto|first=Lydia|others=David Steel|title=A Heritage of Excellence: 25 years at Spar Aerospace Limited|publisher=Spar Aerospace Limited|location=Canada|date=1992|pages=42–43|isbn=0-9696618-0-0|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YzVPAAAAMAAJ}} The Grapple Fixture design was further refined by Barrie Teb.

File:FRGF on Cupola.jpg

The Flight-Releasable Grapple Fixture (FRGF) is the simplest variation of the North American grapple fixture, it allows only for grappling and does not have any electrical connectors. Its use began early in the Space Shuttle program and was developed from the Flight Standard Grapple Fixture (FSGF) by allowing the Grapple Shaft to be installed during extravehicular activity (EVA).{{cite web|url=http://commons.erau.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2430&context=space-congress-proceedings|title=The Shuttle Remote Manipulator System and Its Use In Orbital Operations|last1=Savi S. Sachdev|last2=Brian R. Fuller|date=1983|publisher=Spar Aerospace|accessdate=23 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151123151325/http://commons.erau.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2430&context=space-congress-proceedings|archive-date=2015-11-23|url-status=dead}}

Unpiloted ships like the SpaceX Dragon, Orbital ATK Cygnus and Japanese H-II Transfer Vehicle include a standard FRGF which is used by the Canadarm2 to grapple the capsule on approach to the International Space Station for berthing.{{cite news|url=https://www.wral.com/space-station-catches-dragon-by-the-tail/12180768/ |title=Space station catches Dragon by the tail|publisher=WRAL News|access-date=November 13, 2022}} The fixture can have a maximum payload rating of 65,000 pounds or 30,000 kg.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YqXYKzKktwwC&pg=PA458|title=Progress in Astronautics and Aeronautics V.161: Teleoperation and Robotics in Space|date=1994|publisher= American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics|page=460|isbn=9781600864148 }} An orbital replacement unit may also have a grapple fixture.

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File:Latchable Grapple Fixture.jpg

The Latchable Grapple Fixture (LGF) allows for grappling and latching, intended to be used for longer‐term stowage on the Payload Orbital replacement unit Accommodation (POA) (greater than 3 weeks). It does not have any electrical connectors.

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File:Electrical Flight Grapple Fixture.jpg

File:Electrical Flight Grapple Fixture on the Small Fine Arm.jpg

The Electrical Flight Grapple Fixture (EFGF) allows for grappling. It has a single electrical connection for data, power, and video from cameras on the manipulators.{{Cite web|title = Canadarm|url = http://www.worldspaceflight.com/canada/canadarm.php|website = WorldSpaceFlight.com|accessdate = 2015-12-05}} The electrical connection is compatible with the Shuttle Remote Manipulator System (also known as Canadarm1).

Kibo (ISS module) Remote Manipulator System (Japanese Experiment Module Remote Manipulator System) uses a similar grapple fixture, called Electro Mechanical Grapple Fixture (EMGF).{{cite web|title=ISS: JEM/Kibo|date=March 17, 2016|url=https://www.eoportal.org/satellite-missions/iss-jem|website=eoportal.org|access-date=May 12, 2023}}

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File:Power Video Grapple Fixture.jpg

The Power and Video Grapple Fixture (PVGF) allows for grappling and latching.{{cite web|url=https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20140008717.pdf|title=Robotic Transfer and Interfaces for External ISS Payloads|last=Callen|first=Phillip|date=June 2014|publisher=NASA|accessdate=23 November 2015}} It has electrical connectors for data, video, and power. The electrical connections are compatible with the Space Station Remote Manipulator System (also known as Canadarm2).

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File:Power Data Grapple Fixture on station.jpg

The Power Data Grapple Fixture (PDGF) allows for grappling and latching. It has electrical connectors for data, video, and power; it is also the only North American grapple fixture that is replaceable on-orbit. The electrical connections are compatible with the Space Station Remote Manipulator System (also known as Canadarm2).

It is used on the International Space Station (ISS). PDGFs can be "grappled" by the Canadarm2 robotic arm, in order to allow the arm to manipulate and power a grappled object, or be commanded by operators based inside the ISS. PDGFs located around much of the station provide connections for the arm. They have four rectangular connectors to transfer data, video and electrical power. During the penultimate Space Shuttle flight a PDGF was installed on the Zarya module to support Canadarm2 operations based from the Russian segment.{{cite web|title=STS-134 Press Kit|url=http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/538352main_sts134_presskit_508.pdf|access-date=November 13, 2022|publisher=NASA|archive-date=December 26, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181226120713/https://www.nasa.gov/pdf/538352main_sts134_presskit_508.pdf|url-status=dead}}

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• Hubble Space Telescope has two fixtures{{cite journal|title=An updated re-entry analysis of the Hubble Space Telescope|author=Kyle Baker|author2=Eryn Culton|author3=Jonathan Lang|author4=Zachary Lewis|author5=Robert Perez-Alemany|author6=Alexa Rizzo|author7=Brendon Smeresky|author8=Anthony Starks|author9=Joshua Teneyck|author10=Jennifer Rhatigan|author11=Marcello Romano|url=https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/orbitaldebris2019/orbital2019paper/pdf/6125.pdf|journal=First Int'l. Orbital Debris Conf.|date=2019|access-date=May 12, 2023|page=2}}
• Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) had two. An FRGF and an active (rigidize sensing) grapple used to send an electronic signal to initiate the 19 experiments that had electrical systems.{{cite web|url=http://setas-www.larc.nasa.gov/LDEF/OVERVIEW/structure.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160422155832/http://setas-www.larc.nasa.gov/LDEF/OVERVIEW/structure.html |archive-date=2016-04-22 |title=LDEF structure|access-date=November 13, 2022}}
• Solar Maximum Mission had one - used by Shuttle for repair in orbit

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File:European Robotic Arm Grapple Fixture located on the Rassvet Module, June 2010.png

Although the European Robotic Arm uses grapples to relocate in a similar fashion to Canadarm2, the grapple fixtures are not compatible with each other. This means the European arm can only work on the Russian segments of the station.{{cite journal|url=https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20150004070|title=The European Robotic Arm: A High-performance Mechanism Finally on Its Way to Space|journal=42nd Aerospace Mechanism Symposium|date=May 2014}}

• May 2020 - Shipped to Baikonur for final processing{{Cite web|title=European Robotic Arm arrives in Baikonur|url=https://twitter.com/dutchspace/status/1251241856312188929|access-date=2020-06-03|website=Twitter|language=en}}
• July 2021 - Launched with the Russian Multipurpose Laboratory Module{{cite web|title=Liftoff! Multipurpose Laboratory Module "Nauka" Launches to Space Station|url=https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2021/07/21/liftoff-multipurpose-laboratory-module-nauka-launches-to-space-station/|access-date=2021-07-21 |website=blogs.nasa.gov|publisher=NASA|archive-date=21 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210721162126/https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2021/07/21/liftoff-multipurpose-laboratory-module-nauka-launches-to-space-station/|url-status=live}} {{PD-notice}}

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{{Reflist|30em}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070402144815/http://home.comcast.net/~issguide/components/SSRMS.html Space Station Remote Manipulator System]

Category:Components of the International Space Station