Space agency denies decision already made to send Canadarm to Ottawa museum

<p>LONGUEUIL, Que. – The Canadian Space Agency denies it has already decided to send the original Canadarm to a federally run museum in Ottawa after its final flight on board a U.S. shuttle.</p> <p>The Canadian Press reported on Wednesday that the giant space arm’s first stop after it is removed from the shuttle Endeavour will be the CSA’s headquarters near Montreal.</p> <p>Stephen Quick, director general of the Ottawa museum, told the news agency the giant robotic marvel will eventually be headed his way to the Canada Aviation and Space Museum.</p> <p>Robert Godwin, curator of Toronto’s privately run Canadian Air and Space Museum, also said the decision to send the first Canadarm to Ottawa has already been made.</p> <p>The CSA says in an email that after the safe return of the crew and shuttle, the agency will be working closely with NASA to ensure the safe transit and return of Canadarm.</p> <p>But the email adds that a decision on whether to tour or transfer Canadarm will be made at a much later date.</p> <p>”We intend to display Canadarm at our CSA headquarters, the John H Chapman Space Centre, in Saint-Hubert (Longueuil),” it states.</p> <p>Before it returns to Earth, the Canadarm still has to take one last trip to the International Space Station on Monday aboard Endeavour, which will also be making its last visit before it retires from duty.</p>