Robotic Arm

The Robotic Arm, or Space Station Remote Manipulator System as it is officially termed, is one of the five key components of the Mobile Servicing System.  Two others are the Mobile Transporter, which arrives with the Center Truss, and the Mobile Remote Servicer Base System,  which comes on a resupply flight.  There is also the Special Purpose Dextrous Manipulator, a highly sophisticated pair of robotic "hands" on the end of the Robotic Arm capable of handling delicate or complex-shaped objects.  Finally there is the Robotic Command and Control Workstation, inside the Space Station, which the astronauts and cosmonauts use to operate the Mobile Servicing System.

The whole system will be used as the Space Station grows, placing modules and truss components in their proper location.  It will also be used when removing experiments mounted on the outside of the station, and during maintenance operations, for example changing pressurized containers of oxygen and nitrogen.
