ESA - Node-3 & Cupola - Cupola

General info

Node-3, the most modern module of the ISS Cupola, ISS Observation Module Node-3 systems and internal racks STS-130 flight timeline

Technical info

Node-3

Cupola

Water Recovery System Racks Oxygen Generation System Rack Air Revitalization System Waste and Hygiene Compartment T2 Colbert Treadmill advanced Resistive Exercise Device

Europe and ISS

ISS and Europe’s Major Contributions Taking the ISS to the next level: ISS exploitation and ELIPS

Downloads

Information Kit (pdf)STS-130 Daily Activities (pdf)

Multimedia

Image gallery Video gallery

Services

Article Images

Cupola

Back to article

Trapezoidal windows for the Cupola flight unit at the Alenia Spazio facility in Turin, Italy. (May 2002)

The cupola, currently scheduled for launch in January 2009, is an observation and control tower for the ISS, with windows that will provide a panoramic view for observing and guiding operations on the outside of the station. The pressurised module will accommodate command and control workstations and other hardware, enabling crewmembers to control the station’s robotic arm - for attaching and assembling various station elements - and to communicate with other crewmembers in other parts of the station or outside during spacewalk activities. The cupola will also be used for observational applications in the areas of Earth observation and space science

Credits: ESA

Back to article

Europe's Cupola is mated to Node-3 and ready for NASA launch

Download:

HI-RES JPEG (Size: 3235 kb)

ESA's Cupola was mated to Node-3 in September 2009, and is now ready for launch. The Cupola observation module, which was shipped to the Kennedy Space Center in 2004, and whose ownership was transferred to NASA in 2005, will provide an unprecedented capability for external ISS operations as a command tower for robotic operations as well as a stunning view of Earth for the ISS Expedition crews on board the orbiting ISS.

Credits: ESA - S. Corvaja

Back to article

Internal view of Cupola Structural Test Article during preparations for vibro-acoustic testing at the Alenia Spazio facility in Turin, Italy. (March 2002)

Back to article

De Winne trains in Cupola mock-up at JSC

Download:

HI-RES JPEG (Size: 1164 kb)

ESA astronaut Frank De Winne, Expedition 20 flight engineer and Expedition 21 commander, participates in a training session in the Cupola module mock-up in the Multi-use Remote Manipulator Development Facility in the Space Vehicle Mock-up Facility at NASA's Johnson Space Center, Houston. A robotic arm control station is setup in the mock-up of the Cupola module where robotic arm operations will be housed in the future on the International Space Station. The Cupola will provide crewmembers working inside the module a 360-degree panoramic view of Earth and activities outside the station. Command and control workstations can be installed to assist with the Space Station remote manipulator system and extravehicular activities. The Cupola is the final element of the Space Station core and is scheduled for launch on Space Shuttle Endeavour's STS-130 mission.

Credits: NASA

Last update: 29 January 2010

Node-3 & Cupola

Node-3 and Cupola interviews A room with a view for the International Space Station: Completion of the Cupola observation module

Also visit

Thales Alenia Space Building the ISS

See the ISS