Cupola

19 JUL. 2001 21483

Observation module

Cupola provides an observation and work area for the International Space Station crew that gives visibility to support the control of the Station's robotic arms and a beautiful view of Earth, celestial objects and visiting vehicles.

Cupola is where ESA's Nightpod camera aid was installed to help astronauts take sharper pictures at night.

Specifications
Dimensions
Height	1500 mm
Diameter	2955 mm
	Including Micrometeoroid and orbital Debris Protection System with shutters closed
	Including Flight Releasable Grapple Fixture
Mass budget
Launch Mass	1805 kg
On-orbit mass	1880 kg

Communications and data infrastructure
	Via Audio Terminal Unit that is connected to Node 3 and the rest of the station
	1553B buses via Utility Outlet Panel
	Dedicated discrete lines for Robotic Work Station

Environmental control
	Environmental Control and Life Support air from Node Inter Module Ventilation
	With manual temperature adjustment

Electrical power
Direct from the Node 120 V interface	Window heaters
Via the Utility Outlet Panel, 120 V interface	Robotic Workstation
	Portable Computer System
	Portable light system

Main construction material
Dome	Forged Al 2219-T851
Skirt	Al 2219-T851
Thermal control	Goldised Kapton Multi-Layer Insulation blanket
Windows	Fused Silica and borosilicate glass
Protective shutters	Al-6061-T6, AL 7075-T7352 and Kevlar/Nextel sheets

Ownership and development authority
	The Cupola is provided by ESA to NASA in exchange for the transport of 5 external payloads
Prime contractor
	Alenia Spazio (Turin, Italy), leading a consortium of European sub-contractors

Configuration
On launch
	Launched inside the Orbiter cargo bay, mounted on a Spacelab pallet via a Manual Berthing Mechanism
Launch vehicle	Space Shuttle (Flight 20A/STS-130)
Launch site	Kennedy Space Center
Launch date	8 February 2010
On orbit
	Transferred from Orbiter cargo bay to the Node location by the Shuttle Remote Manipulator System
	and Station Remote Manipulator System interfacing with the Cupola
	Initially berthed to Node 1 Port-port, later relocated to Node 3 Forward-port.
	(Node 3 Aft-port for contingency)

Outfitting on-orbit
Permanently	1 Audio Terminal Unit and 2 Utility Outlet Panels
Periodically	Robotic Work Station
	Portable Computer System
	Portable light system
	Foot restraint device to support crew operations

Flight hardware
Primary	Forged/Machined Aluminium dome welded to skirt
	Window Assy, (6 side and 1 top), glass panes and window heaters and thermistors.
	Passive Common Berthing Mechanism bolted to the skirt.
	Micro-meteoroid and orbital Debris Protection
	System Aluminum bumper on the cylindrical portion
	2 Flight Releasable Grapple Fixture interfaceplates
Secondary	Internal closure panels equipment & harness support brackets
	Crew System Kit; seat tracks, handrails, handholds, tethers.
	Manually operated shutters for each window (also serves as MDPS).
	2 Window Change Out Covers to support on orbit window assy replacement.
	Thermal Control System; water supplied from Node High Temperature loop.
	Passive thermal control utilizes Multi-Layer Insulation and thermo optical properties.
	Environmental Control and Life Support air from Node Inter Module Ventilation.
	MIL-1553 Bus, Discrete I/O, Audio, Video

[ Node-3 & Cupola ]

[ Human and Robotic Exploration ]

Node-3 & Cupola

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