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Atlantis readies for Columbus mission


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

Columbus in KSC's SSPF
 
After arriving from Germany by Beluga aircraft, the European Columbus laboratory settles into a new home in the Space Station Processing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center.

The Columbus laboratory is ESA's biggest contribution to the International Space Station. Delivered to ESA by EADS SPACE Transportation on 2 May 2006, this laboratory will provide internal payload accommodation for various scientific experiments. The Columbus laboratory will be flown on a Space Shuttle to the ISS in the second half of 2007.

Columbus laboratory
 
Columbus laboratory - inside view



Release date: 13 November 2007