Orbiter Boom Sensor System
[1] At the far end of the boom was an instrumentation package of cameras and lasers used to scan the leading edges of the wings, the nose cap, and the crew compartment after each lift-off and before each landing.If flight engineers suspected potential damage to other areas, as evidenced in imagery captured during lift-off or the rendezvous pitch maneuver, then additional regions could be scanned.The OBSS was central to focused inspections of the TPS, not only because it carried all the instruments necessary for detailed measurements and observations, but also because without it, the Canadarm was too short to reach to all the areas that needed to be surveyed.It is also fitted with handrails, so that the boom could be used to provide spacewalkers with access to the shuttle's underbelly in case in-flight repairs were required.Canadarm2 grabbed the arm on its center Flight-Releasable Grapple Fixture and then astronaut Scott E. Parazynski was mounted at the end of the boom to make the repair.
Space ShuttlesCanadarmrendezvous pitch maneuverSTS-114Discoveryretirement of the Space Shuttle fleetThermal Protection SystemSpace Shuttle Columbia disasterLaser Dynamic Range ImagerLaser Camera SystemspacewalkersSTS-120Canadarm2Scott E. ParazynskiInternational Space StationSTS-134grapple fixtureIntegrated Truss StructureRussian SegmentPrichalRassvetZvezdaUS SegmentColumbusCupolaDestinyHarmonyLeonardoQuest airlockTranquilityBishop airlockElectrical SystemEuropean Robotic ArmExternal Stowage PlatformsExPRESS Logistics CarriersInternational Docking AdaptersLife Support SystemMobile Servicing SystemDextrePressurized Mating AdaptersStrelaWindow Observational Research FacilityAMS-02ISS-CREAMPK-3 PlusSAGE IIIUS Deorbit VehicleMulti-Purpose Logistics ModulesInterim Control ModuleNode 4Propulsion ModuleCentrifuge Accommodations ModuleHabitation ModuleCrew Return VehicleScience Power PlatformUniversal Docking ModuleRussian Research ModuleScience Power ModuleManufacturing of the ISSAssembly of the ISS