Dextre is a two-armed robotic device, called a telemanipulator and nicknamed the “Canada hand,” that will be used in some cases to replace astronauts performing spacewalks.

It is part of the Mobile Servicing System (MSS), which consisting primarily of the Canadarm2 robotic arm (or Space Station Remote Manipulator [SSRMS]), the Mobile Remote Servicer Base System (MBS), and the SPDM (Dextre).

The MSS moves along rails on the Mobile Transporter cart, which is attached on the Integrated Truss Structure of the space station.

Endeavour and the STS-123 mission will be commanded by Dominic Gorie, with Gregory H. Johnson as the pilot and Robert L. Behnken, Mike Foreman, Rick Linnehan, Garrett Reisman and Japanese astronaut Takao Doi as the mission specialists.

Five spacewalks will be conducted during the flight primarily to install the Kibo and Dextre to the International Space Station.

For additional information about the STS-123 mission, its crew, and the five spacewalks, please visit: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts123/index.html.

Reisman will remain on the station as a resident ISS Expedition crew member, replacing ISS flight engineer and ESA astronaut Leopold Eyharts, who will return home on Endeavour.

For NASA TV downlink information, schedules and links to streaming video, please go to: http://www.nasa.gov/ntv.

{moscomment}