The European Robotic Arm for the International Space Station

In March 1996 ESA signed a contract with Fokker Space on the full scale development of the European Robotic Arm (ERA). ERA is a co-operative development with the Russian Space Agency and will help to assemble and service the Russian Segment of the International Space Station. This paper describes the design of the ERA, the way it is operated and controlled, its development philosophy and status, its operational role over the lifetime of the Russian Segment and the crew training concept. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.