1. The flight telerobotic servicer, or FTS ( Fig. 13), was conceived as a means of incorporating U.S. robotics technology on Space Station Freedom. The U.S. Congress was interested in advancing both robotics and automation technology for the benefit of the Station, as well as directing spin-offs to the U.S. economy. In addition to ensuring technology transfer between various U.S. industries, the FTS would also servetoprovideteleroboticsassistancetoearly Station assembly tasks, service attached scientific payloads, and serve as a telerobotic assistant to EVA crewmembers.