MSS history at Marc Garneau CI

MSS PROJECT OVERVIEW

JANUARY 1997

The MSS Project started in January 1997, when an agreement was made between Marc Garneau Collegiate Institute, The Discovery Channel and MacDonald Detwiller (named SPAR Aerospace at the time) that students at M.G.C.I. were to construct two one-third scale models of the International Space Station Mobile Servicing System. (The MSS is commonly known as the Canadarm.) Soon after, staff from Marc Garneau met with representatives from the Discovery Channel and SPAR Aerospace. Here, the proposal was formalised and details such as delivery and payments were finalised. This meeting concluded with a tour of the facilities at SPAR, including the clean room where the MSS Boom Assembly that is to go up into space was being assembled.

The following month, the MSS club formed officially at MGCI. This extra curricular activity was under the direction of Mr. D. MacCorkindale and Mr. R. Thorpe.

FEBRUARY to APRIL 1997

Students working on the project began by analysing the blue prints received from SPAR. The biggest difficulty was to comprehend and understand what was in the drawings and what was to be done with them. Thankfully, many of the students working on the project had taken a drafting course earlier.

Group members began to understand what they were building and the restrictions that they had to work with. They realised that many of the parts that were shown could not be incorporated as the blue prints because the drawings were of a much more complicated model. Group members had to fabricate new joints and structures to simulate and resemble the real arm. However, the group faced another major problem: the actual arm was designed to operate in micro-gravitational conditions. Therefore, weight was not a factor for the engineers designing the real arm. The model, however, had to be made so that it could maintain it's own weight and not warp itself into a different shape as it hung from above, where it could pose a safety hazard to those standing near it.

They next step for the MSS Project Team was to convert dimensions on the blue prints to measurements used for the scale model. For the process to occur correctly, students had to measure the drawings and learn how to fabricate the structure and exact mechanics of the parts. All measurements had to be accurately modified. Often, the team had to predict items because the drawings were not accurate enough to know what things looked like with any certainty. This step caused frustration for the group.

In April 1997, cost estimation began. All factors of the project had to be taken into account. This included strength, weight, appearance, and the malleability of each part. In order to keep within the budget of the project, each part had to be made of the cheapest available material that was still able to perform its own duty without breakage. Group members also had to take into account the limitations of the machinery with which they had to work with. The project team had to decide what the best allocation of money towards materials and machinery would be.

JUNE 1997 TO AUGUST 1998

Group members visited SPAR Aerospace for an on site tour of the facilities in June 1997. This was an opportunity to view how all of the operations of the MSS that was to go into space are performed. Engineers at SPAR worked with students, giving them an "under the hood view" of what they were working on, complete with explanations and suggestions for the model.

Two months later, in August 1997, the group held a press conference at the National Trade Building at the CNE to demonstrate to the public what they were doing. John Snobelen, who was then minister of education, and Dr. Marc Garneau, the first Canadian Astronaut and scientist, was also there. The conference was conducted in front of national newspaper and television journalists.

Dr. Garneau has been an important influence and supporter of the MSS Model Project. He has kept in close contact with Mr. Thorpe and Mr. MacCorkindale since the press conference. He came back to meet with the group when MGCI had it's 25th anniversary.

A year later, the project group occupied a booth at the Canadian National Exhibition. They displayed a one-eighth scale-model made of plastic and ran continual demonstrations of what had been accomplished.

1999

All construction has taken place during this year, 1999. Some materials have been received, as well as payments from MacDonald Detwiller and from the Discovery Channel. The material for the roll, yaw and pitch joints have been designed and is being machined.

In 1999, students took another trip to MacDonald Detwiller (formerly SPAR) to examine the boom assembly of the real project. During the tour, a Canadarm wrist joint was being tested, prior to it's being sent down to the United States for launch. Students got the opportunity to talk to the engineers working on the arm as well as the chance to take pictures to help with the construction of the model.

A just in time design and manufacturing process is being used throughout the project

TO COME IN THE FUTURE

In the near future, the project team is to complete the manufacturing of the parts.

Prior to the launch of Canada's portion to the International Space Station, one model arm is to be completed and delivered to the Discovery Channel. The second arm is to be completed shortly after for MacDonald Dettwiller Space and Advanced Robotics Limited.

Written By Matthew Halse
Grade 10 TOPS Student at M.G.C.I



		MSS PROJECT OVERVIEW JANUARY 1997 The MSS Project started in January 1997, when an agreement was made between Marc Garneau Collegiate Institute, The Discovery Channel and MacDonald Detwiller (named SPAR Aerospace at the time) that students at M.G.C.I. were to construct two one-third scale models of the International Space Station Mobile Servicing System. (The MSS is commonly known as the Canadarm.) Soon after, staff from Marc Garneau met with representatives from the Discovery Channel and SPAR Aerospace. Here, the proposal was formalised and details such as delivery and payments were finalised. This meeting concluded with a tour of the facilities at SPAR, including the clean room where the MSS Boom Assembly that is to go up into space was being assembled. The following month, the MSS club formed officially at MGCI. This extra curricular activity was under the direction of Mr. D. MacCorkindale and Mr. R. Thorpe. FEBRUARY to APRIL 1997 Students working on the project began by analysing the blue prints received from SPAR. The biggest difficulty was to comprehend and understand what was in the drawings and what was to be done with them. Thankfully, many of the students working on the project had taken a drafting course earlier. Group members began to understand what they were building and the restrictions that they had to work with. They realised that many of the parts that were shown could not be incorporated as the blue prints because the drawings were of a much more complicated model. Group members had to fabricate new joints and structures to simulate and resemble the real arm. However, the group faced another major problem: the actual arm was designed to operate in micro-gravitational conditions. Therefore, weight was not a factor for the engineers designing the real arm. The model, however, had to be made so that it could maintain it's own weight and not warp itself into a different shape as it hung from above, where it could pose a safety hazard to those standing near it. They next step for the MSS Project Team was to convert dimensions on the blue prints to measurements used for the scale model. For the process to occur correctly, students had to measure the drawings and learn how to fabricate the structure and exact mechanics of the parts. All measurements had to be accurately modified. Often, the team had to predict items because the drawings were not accurate enough to know what things looked like with any certainty. This step caused frustration for the group. In April 1997, cost estimation began. All factors of the project had to be taken into account. This included strength, weight, appearance, and the malleability of each part. In order to keep within the budget of the project, each part had to be made of the cheapest available material that was still able to perform its own duty without breakage. Group members also had to take into account the limitations of the machinery with which they had to work with. The project team had to decide what the best allocation of money towards materials and machinery would be. JUNE 1997 TO AUGUST 1998 Group members visited SPAR Aerospace for an on site tour of the facilities in June 1997. This was an opportunity to view how all of the operations of the MSS that was to go into space are performed. Engineers at SPAR worked with students, giving them an "under the hood view" of what they were working on, complete with explanations and suggestions for the model. Two months later, in August 1997, the group held a press conference at the National Trade Building at the CNE to demonstrate to the public what they were doing. John Snobelen, who was then minister of education, and Dr. Marc Garneau, the first Canadian Astronaut and scientist, was also there. The conference was conducted in front of national newspaper and television journalists. Dr. Garneau has been an important influence and supporter of the MSS Model Project. He has kept in close contact with Mr. Thorpe and Mr. MacCorkindale since the press conference. He came back to meet with the group when MGCI had it's 25th anniversary. A year later, the project group occupied a booth at the Canadian National Exhibition. They displayed a one-eighth scale-model made of plastic and ran continual demonstrations of what had been accomplished. 1999 All construction has taken place during this year, 1999. Some materials have been received, as well as payments from MacDonald Detwiller and from the Discovery Channel. The material for the roll, yaw and pitch joints have been designed and is being machined. In 1999, students took another trip to MacDonald Detwiller (formerly SPAR) to examine the boom assembly of the real project. During the tour, a Canadarm wrist joint was being tested, prior to it's being sent down to the United States for launch. Students got the opportunity to talk to the engineers working on the arm as well as the chance to take pictures to help with the construction of the model. A just in time design and manufacturing process is being used throughout the project TO COME IN THE FUTURE In the near future, the project team is to complete the manufacturing of the parts. Prior to the launch of Canada's portion to the International Space Station, one model arm is to be completed and delivered to the Discovery Channel. The second arm is to be completed shortly after for MacDonald Dettwiller Space and Advanced Robotics Limited. Written By Matthew Halse Grade 10 TOPS Student at M.G.C.I