Product profile
Canadarm3
Canadarm3 is the MDA Space-built robotic system for the lunar Gateway program. It combines a large arm, dexterous arm, specialized tools and ground-control...
Facts
- Company
- MDA Space
- Product type
- space_robotics
- Status
- development
- Primary capability
- Gateway servicing
- Website
- https://mda.space/space-exploration-and-infrastructure/
About Canadarm3
Canadarm3 is MDA Space's autonomous robotic system for NASA's lunar-orbiting Gateway station. It combines a large arm, a smaller dexterous arm, specialised tools, external attachment interfaces and ground-control software for assembly, maintenance, science operations and astronaut support.
Machine vision, artificial intelligence and mission-planning software are being designed to let the system inspect and repair Gateway with minimal intervention from Earth, roughly 400,000 kilometres away. The arms can reposition around standard interfaces, handle replacement units and payloads, capture visiting spacecraft and assist spacewalks. A Canadian Space Agency contract is funding final design, construction, integration and testing of the flight system.
Market context
robotic_arm, space_robotics, 1600, Development system; the Canadian Space Agency currently lists delivery to Gateway no earlier than 2029., Canadian Space Agency, NASA, 900, 359236251b5e8f5938991f1cfb2dc9da4312654941c8ad5c876042a12c3fbd6c, Space Manipulator System, lunar_gateway, https://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/images/recherche//hi-res/32842320-4dcd-448f-9a98-30bc477c1430.jpg, contracted_development_program, https://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/multimedia/search/image/12642?search=canadarm3, products/easy-wins-2026-08-10/canadarm3-hero-1600x900.jpg, 2026-08-10, official_1920x1080_concept_image_resized_to_1600x900, space_robotics, exact_official_asset, Space Manipulator System, space_robotics, space_manipulator_platform, space_robotics
Summary
Type: Space robot
Core: Dual-arm system
Function: Gateway servicing
Audience: Space agencies
Specifications
- degrees_of_freedom
- Seven degrees of freedom DoF
- delivery_window
- Delivery to Gateway no earlier than 2029 year
- length
- 8.5 m large arm m
- mass_kg
- 1,076 kg estimated mass for the large arm kg
- materials
- Carbon-fibre composite
- orbital_distance_from_earth_km
- Approximately 400,000 km from Earth in lunar orbit km
- system_components
- Exploration Large Arm, Exploration Dexterous Arm, specialized tools, ground control and AI-based mission-planning software
Operations
- Environment
- lunar orbit, space station exterior
- Primary user
- space agencies, Gateway operators
- Role
- orbital maintenance, inspection and spacecraft capture
- Interaction model
- autonomous and ground controlled
- Mobility class
- walking space manipulator system
- Product detail
- robotic_arm, space_robotics, 1600, Development system; the Canadian Space Agency currently lists delivery to Gateway no earlier than 2029., Canadian Space Agency, NASA, 900, 359236251b5e8f5938991f1cfb2dc9da4312654941c8ad5c876042a12c3fbd6c, Space Manipulator System, lunar_gateway, https://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/images/recherche//hi-res/32842320-4dcd-448f-9a98-30bc477c1430.jpg, contracted_development_program, https://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/multimedia/search/image/12642?search=canadarm3, products/easy...