by Rincewind » Mon May 22, 2006 10:48 am
The figures do seem to be open to question. The frist Canadarm on the shuttle can move 65,000 pounds (29 tonnes) - source wikipedia. The new one you would expect to move more than that but just how much I don't know. The wikipedia page for the Canadarm reports the same facts as this site. I suspect one was copied form the other. But wikipedia also gives the lb capacity to ruling out wrong units.
The mass it's self, quoted at 116,000kg is not unbelievable. Remember no gravity. Also no air resistance. So even a small force can move a big mass. The referance to a bus though is unusual. A bus might weigh 16t fully loaded. So I think it's the comparason that is wrong not the figures.
The figures do seem to be open to question. The frist Canadarm on the shuttle can move 65,000 pounds (29 tonnes) - source wikipedia. The new one you would expect to move more than that but just how much I don't know. The wikipedia page for the Canadarm reports the same facts as this site. I suspect one was copied form the other. But wikipedia also gives the lb capacity to ruling out wrong units.
The mass it's self, quoted at 116,000kg is not unbelievable. Remember no gravity. Also no air resistance. So even a small force can move a big mass. The referance to a bus though is unusual. A bus might weigh 16t fully loaded. So I think it's the comparason that is wrong not the figures.