Canadian engineers fix faulty Canadarm 2 replacement hand

In this file photo, the SpaceX Dragon cargo spaceship is grappled by the International Space Station's Canadarm2.

The Canadian Space Agency says it used a "creative software solution" to fix a replacement part on the Canadarm 2, postponing the need to send astronauts on a spacewalk.

The agency says scientists detected an anomaly in one of the electronic systems that controls a new hand that was installed on the International Space Station's robotic arm last Tuesday.

The CSA says both systems needs to be functional for the robotic arm to be able to fully perform its tasks.

The agency says they planned to send NASA astronauts on a second spacewalk to reattach the old hand, which was functional despite showing signs of wear and tear.

But it says the CSA robotics specialist team determined that the anomaly could be corrected using new software, which was developed by Canadian engineers.

The agency says a spacewalk is no longer necessary.