The Canadians are also building the robotic arm for International Space
Station.  The Canadian arm currently on the Shuttle was used to connect
the Russian ISS component Zarya to the U.S. node Unity in December.

-----Original Message-----
From: Tim McShane [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Friday, February 05, 1999 1:42 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Canada in Space/Canadian Identity


Deb Fuller wrote:

>Didn't Canada also provide the first robot arm used in Columbia, the
first
>space shuttle?


We sure did!  As far as I know, the appropriately-named "CanadArms" (or
subsequent versions of them) are still being used on the space shuttles.


This shows that not all Americans are as un-informed about Canada as
many
Canadians believe, although I do believe Canadians are generally better
informed
about Americans than vice-versa (the result of all-pervasive American
media).
Of course Canadians are different from Americans, but I don't think we
have to
be defensive about it.  If it wasn't for this difference, and the
Canadian
perception that Americans don't recognize the difference, Canadian
humour
wouldn't be nearly as entertaining as it is (I'm thinking of the
Canadian news
satire "This Hour Has 22 Minutes", and to a lesser extent "The Royal
Canadian
Air Farce").  If any of my fellow Canucks experience frustration over
American
attitudes towards us, I suggest watching one of these shows, and
laughing the
frustration away.  Then remember that, as neighbours go, the Americans
are that
bad...we have a much better relationship with them than many countries
around
the world do with their neighbours.

And, Mr. Handy, I for one thought your "just another state in the Union"
remark
was quite humourous!


----------------------------------------------------------------------
Tim McShane
Curatorial Assistant, Parks Canada
(also, Co-Chair of the Museum Division, Arrow 2000 Project)
Calgary, Alberta