How do the astronauts train using the robotic arm on Earth, seeing there is gravity? Would the arm support its own weight on Earth?
For robotic arm training, the astronauts use several different simulators, with each possessing its own strengths. The Shuttle Engineering Simulator (SES) and the Shuttle Mission Simulator (SMS) are two computer simulators that are used extensively. Each one has actual switches and hand controllers to maneuver a computer model of the arm and the payload. Another heavily used simulator is the Mission Development Facility (MDF). This simulator utilizes real hardware, which includes a hydraulic robot arm, payload mock-ups, and cameras. To assist EVA operations, the NASA Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory (NBL) has an underwater robotic arm. This is used to train the crew in joint EVA and arm operations.
