Enhanced ISS Boom Assembly
Due to the benefits for spacewalkers from the extended range provided by connecting an OBSS to the International Space Station(ISS)'s robotic arm, NASA implemented a plan for the STS-134 Space Shuttle mission to leave its OBSS behind on the ISS, where it will permanently remain. The plan resulted in a number of modifications to the OBSS, now known as the Enhanced ISS Boom Assembly, including the addition of a Power Data and Grapple Fixture which enables mating to the robotic arm on the end of the boom with a Canadarm2-compatible grapple fixture to favor station use. The boom was stowed on the ISS S1 Integrated Truss Structure on the fourth spacewalk of STS-134 on May 27, 2011. The OBSS sensors were disconnected during the EVA, and are not designed to withstand thermal conditions outside the ISS without power to keep them warm. However, the modification of the grapple fixture could enable such equipment to be mounted onto the OBSS in the future.
Read more about this topic: Orbiter Boom Sensor System
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