its joints and brakes. Astronauts finished outfitting the robot during a third spacewalk on March 17, 2008. Operational use After testing and trials, the first planned use was in the removal and replacement of an RPCM (Remote Power Control Module) in 2009. In the early morning of February 4, 2011, Dextre completed its first official assignment which consisted of unpacking two pieces for Kounotori 2 while the on-board crew was sleeping. As flight controllers have gained experience planning and executing Dextre operations, its use has become a more critical part of ISS maintenance. It is capable of removing and replacing (R&R) many ORUs on the ISS that would normally otherwise require costly and risky spacewalks to repair. Examples of items successfully R&R'd include RPCMs, an external camera, a Pump Flow Control Subassembly, and a Main Bus Switching Unit. It is also relied on heavily for extracting experiments and payloads from visiting vehicles, installing them to their final locations on the exterior of the ISS. Finally, Dextre supports scientific research and robotics development through experiments such as the Robotics External Leak Locator, Robotic Refueling Mission, and the Materials International Space Station Experiment Flight Facility (MISSE-FF). Other mentions In early August 2004 NASA declared its intention to use Dextre (or a close copy of it) as the robotic component for the Hubble Space Telescope rescue mission. Months after awarding a contract to MDA to provide an SPDM copy for the Hubble repair mission, NASA then canceled the mission in favour of flying a Shuttle mission to perform the repairs/upgrades. NASA cited excessive risks and new-found confidence in the Space Shuttle external tank as reasons for the cancellation. Dextre was the subject of an April Fool's Day joke article on April 1, 2008 on NASA's APOD website. Dextre was also featured in the new $5 Canadian Polymer bank note together with Canadarm2, which Commander Chris Hadfield helped reveal aboard the International Space Station. See also Canadarm, which was used on the Space Shuttle Mobile Servicing System (MSS), also known by its primary component the Canadarm2, used on the ISS European Robotic Arm, A fourth robotic arm attached to the ROS, similar to the Mobile Servicing System The Japanese Remote Manipulator System, used on the ISS JEM module Kibo Strela, a manually operated crane used on the ROS which performs similar tasks as the Mobile Servicing System References External links Dextre, the International Space