NASA has told MD Robotics of Canada, a subsidiary of MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates (MDA), to proceed with the construction of the first two Space Shuttle inspection booms, to fly on the Shuttle return to flight missions STS 114 and STS 121 scheduled for 2005. The boom, attached to the MD Robotics-built remote manipulator system Canadarm 1, will allow the close-up inspection of the thermal protection system on the underside of the orbiter and other parts that cannot be seen from the cockpit, including the wing leading edge panels.
Source: Flight International
