Once Columbus was attached, Schlegel and Eyharts were the principal astronauts involved with activation and commissioning of the laboratory. Columbus was first connected to the ISS systems for power data and thermal control. The pressurised laboratory was then entered for the first time on 12 February 2008. On-orbit activities involved reconfiguring the internal facilities from the launch configuration to their on-orbit configuration.

Commissioning the laboratory was a complex task. Léopold Eyharts continued commissioning activities together with the Expedition 16 crew after the 13-day STS-122 mission.

SOLAR and EuTEF were also transported to ISS inside the Shuttle's cargo bay

Installation of European external payloads on Columbus

Two European external experiment facilities, EuTEF and SOLAR, were installed on the outside of the Columbus laboratory during the third STS-122 EVA. ESA astronaut Léopold Eyharts and NASA astronaut Leland Melvin operated the Station's robotic arm, transporting one of the spacewalkers between the Shuttle cargo bay (where EuTEF and SOLAR were stowed) and the Columbus laboratory's External Payload Facility (where they were installed).

EuTEF houses many different experiments including a variety of exobiology experiments. SOLAR will carry out an in-depth study of the Sun.

Eyharts joins Expedition 16

Exchange ISS Expedition crew member

ESA astronaut Léopold Eyharts became the second ESA astronaut to join an ISS long-term Expedition crew shortly after arriving with the STS-122 flight. He remained on the ISS for nearly 7 weeks, flying back on the STS-123 flight on 23 March 2008. Eyharts replaced NASA astronaut Daniel Tani as ISS Expedition 16 Flight Engineer 2.

Undertake a European experiment programme

Léopold Eyharts and Hans Schlegel undertook a number of experiments for the European scientific community, including runs of the first experiments to be carried out in the experiment facilities in Columbus. Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko carried out additional European experiments. Eyharts also carried out a number of educational activities.

The first experiments to be conducted using the experiment facilities inside Columbus

The experiments requiring the weightless environment inside the ISS are in the areas of human physiology and biology, fluid science and radiation dosimetry. The experiments that need exposure to the open space environment outside the ISS cover a number of scientific areas including exobiology, solar science and material science, in addition to various monitoring and sensor technologies.

Return of Control Moment Gyroscope

During the third STS-122 spacewalk a failed Control Moment Gyroscope was placed in the Shuttle's cargo bay for return to Earth. The Control Moment Gyroscopes are used to control the orbital orientation of the Space Station.

Columbus Laboratory (Cutaway view)

Replacement of Nitrogen Tank Assembly

During the second STS-122 spacewalk, ESA astronaut Hans Schlegel and NASA astronaut Rex Walheim removed and replaced a Nitrogen Tank Assembly on the P1 truss section.

The tank forms part of the external thermal control system of the ISS. The old Nitrogen tank Assembly was placed in the Shuttle’s cargo bay for return to Earth.

Delivery of supplies and equipment

As well as bringing standard logistics supplies for the Shuttle and ISS Expedition crews, the mission also delivered equipment to the ISS, which is needed to outfit Columbus (inside and outside) as well as additional equipment for installation during the spacewalks.

The European Flywheel Exercise Device was also be delivered by STS-122. This is a resistance exercise device that acts to countermeasure muscle atrophy, bone loss, and impairment of muscle function in astronauts.