Canada's robot begins 1st satellite refuelling job

The Canadian-builtrobot handymanaboard the International SpaceStationis attemptingto demonstrate for the first timethat amachine can carry out the delicate task ofrefuelling a satellite in orbit.

The robot known as Dextre, short for Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator has been aboard the space station since 2008 andis what the Canadian Space Agency calls the most sophisticated space robot ever built.

Overnight Monday,the3.65-metretall robot, witha mass of1,560 kilograms,started the first of what's expected to be a five-daymission to demonstrate how a satellite can besafely refuelled.

A spokesperson for the Canadian Space Agency said Dextre will be transfering 1.7 litres of liquid ethanol that was transported to the ISS by NASA's space shuttleAtlantis during its final mission in July 2011.

Throughout the process Dextre will be attached to the end ofCanadarm2, the robotic arm outside the ISS that helps with assembly and maintenance.

To helpit work on the satellite, Dextre will be supporting a 250-kilogram, washing machine-sized, module designed by NASA that'sequipped with 28 different tools including wire cutters and a nozzle tool.

Transfering liquid ethanol

The Canadian agency says the fuel tank on the satelliteisprotected by a series of seals, nuts and safety caps to prevent any hazardous leaks and Dextre's first job will be to remove a tertiary cap attached to a tether wire.

The space agency describes the set-up as similar to that on an automobile.

In March,Dextre completed athree-day experimentwhich included a series of tasks and simulations as preparation.

Satellites are not designed to be touched following their launch, so many become space junk once they run out of fuel.

NASA estimates there are approximately 400 satellites in thegeosynchronous orbit 35,000 kilometres from Earth.

According to the U.S. space agency's website, Dextre isoperated by robotics controllers both at NASA's space centre in Houston,and the Canadian Space Agency's headquarters in Saint-Hubert, Que.