bob haller wrote:
ISS is the largest and most complex. with the low rate of available ot soyuz
and the shuttle grounded this is different from MIR in its prime years. This
makes a camera essential to operations. no need to rush out a airlock when
wierd noises occur.

Actually, the more realistic solution is just to install additional SSRMS
grappling points that would enable the arm to be used on the russian segment.
Particularly, if it could move its end effector all the way around the aft
Progress docking port.

I don't think it would have taken megabucks to install grappling points on
each russian module and string some wires back to Z1 where command/data/power
could be provided. It is called foresight.

Such a scheme would allow for really easy movement of Pirs from nadir to
zenith ports should the russians ever send that commercial module.

And it would allow the arm to greatly help with inspections, and once you have
the grapling hand, even help fix things (such as a recent progress docking
port problem).