Dextre is NASA’s two-armed robotic maintenance machine on the International Space Station. Its formal name is the Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator, and the Canadian Space Agency built it as part of Canada’s contribution to the station.
Dextre was delivered to the ISS aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour in March 2008. It has two highly articulated arms, tool-changing equipment, cameras, and a central body that attaches to the station’s robotic systems. The machine can perform delicate maintenance tasks outside the station, potentially reducing the need for astronauts to conduct risky spacewalks.
Dextre is not the same as Canadarm2. Canadarm2 is the larger mobile arm that transports equipment and helps move Dextre around the station. Together, the systems form a coordinated robotic capability for external maintenance and servicing.