What is the name of the European robotic arm on the Russian segment of the ISS?
Answer
European Robotic Arm
Answer
European Robotic Arm
The European robotic arm on the Russian segment of the ISS is the European Robotic Arm (ERA).
Developed under the European Space Agency, ERA was launched in July 2021 with the Nauka laboratory module and became the first large robotic arm designed to operate on the Russian Orbital Segment. Its home base is primarily Nauka, with operations also involving the Prichal module.
ERA is about 11.3 metres long when fully extended and has seven degrees of freedom. Unlike Canadarm2, it can move hand-over-hand between specially designed base points on the Russian segment. It can transport equipment, support external maintenance, and help move payloads through Nauka's airlock.
The alternatives refer to other ISS robotic systems. RMS usually means the Japanese Experiment Module Remote Manipulator System, Dextre is Canada's two-armed maintenance robot, and Canadarm2 is the station's major robotic arm on the US Orbital Segment. Their different grapple fixtures mean they are not interchangeable with ERA.
Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Aug. 2026