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ESA’s pair of astronauts back on Earth

22 December 2006

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Space Shuttle Discovery's landed on runway 15 at Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility at 23:32 CET on Friday 22 December, 2006.

Credits: ESA - S.Corvaja

Astrolab’s achievements

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German ESA astronaut Thomas Reiter floats on the middeck of the Space Shuttle Discovery. This was among the first group of digital still images showing the crewmembers onboard during their first full day in space after launching from Cape Canaveral on 4 July 2006.

Credits: NASA

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ESA astronaut Thomas Reiter, Expedition 13 Flight Engineer 2, is seen with the reinforced carbon carbon (RCC) sample case which was one of the final major planned tasks for a 5-hour, 54-minute spacewalk that he shared with astronaut Jeff Williams (out of frame), Flight Engineer and NASA ISS Science Officer.

Credits: NASA

Celsius prepares for ISS growth

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ESA astronaut Christer Fuglesang during the Celsius Mission to the International Space Station - he is seen here with the Altcriss cosmic ray detector installed in the Station's Pirs module.

Credits: NASA

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ESA astronaut Christer Fuglesang during the second spacewalk of the STS-116 mission to the International Space Station. Fuglesang stands on a platform at the end of the Station's robotic arm, Canadarm2, during operations to relocate two CETA carts.

Credits: NASA

Health and morale for future long-duration flights

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Christer Fuglesang and Thomas Reiter - two ESA astronauts reunited in space. This picture was taken shortly after the crew of Space Shuttle Discovery entered the International Space Station at 00:54 CET on 12 December 2006. Swedish ESA astronaut Christer Fuglesang arrived as a member of the Shuttle crew, whilst German ESA astronaut Thomas Reiter has been living on the ISS since his arrival with Space Shuttle mission STS-121 in July. Both astronauts will return to Earth with Space Shuttle Discovery, which is due to land at NASA's Kennedy Space Centre on 21 December 2006.

Credits: NASA

Europe on the ISS to stay

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An artist's impression of Columbus, a cutaway view, the European laboratory module of the International Space Station.

Credits: ESA - D.Ducros

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Artist's impression of the Automated Transfer Vehicle approaching the International Space Station. In combination with ESA's new Ariane 5, the 20.5 t, 8.5 m-long Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) will enable Europe to transport cargo to the International Space Station. This new vehicle, scheduled for its initial test flight in September 2004, can carry 9 tonnes of scientific equipment, general supplies, water, oxygen and propellant. Up to 4 t can be propellant for ATV's own engines to reboost the Station at regular intervals as atmospheric drag reduces the orbit. Developed under Aerospatialess prime contractorship, an ATV will be launched on average every 15 months as a means of ESA contributing to the Station's operating costs. It can remain docked for up to 6 months, during which time it will be loaded with Station waste before being undocked and flown into Earth's atmosphere to burn up.

Credits: ESA - D.Ducros

Astrolab Mission

Celsius Mission