ISS Update September 2003
Its completion date is now under review due to the Columbia accident.
As the International Space Station is such a large project its construction is taking place in stages over nearly a decade. Shuttles are used to transport the largest elements and the knock-on effect of the Columbia accident and the grounding of the shuttle fleet is to put the station assembly on hold until the shuttle fleet is flying again.
Until then, Russian Progress and Soyuz vehicles are used to exchange astronauts on the Station, and to bring the supplies they need. Also, the size of the permanent crews has been reduced from three to two.
The development of the European contributions to the Station is running according to plan.
In September 2004, the first Automated Transfer Vehicle, also called ATV, is programmed to fly to the ISS.
Also in autumn 2004, ESA will be ready for the launch of its very own Columbus Laboratory on a Space Shuttle, which will permanently attach it to the ISS. This is a multifun

ISS Update September 2003
10:00:40:00
Start A-roll
10:00:41:00
The recent findings of the Columbia accident investigation board conclude that ÒNASA can resume Space Shuttle operationsÓ. But the report also demands changes to shuttle operations and a re-organisation of NASA before the first Orbiter is rolled out onto the launch pad again.
10:00:57:00
ITW John Logsdon ? CAIB Report Hearing
10:01:09:00
The International Space Station will obviously not remain unaffected by these findings
10:01:15:00
The International Space Station, or ISS, is the biggest man-made construction in Space. It is literally the embodiment of a large-scale co-operation between Europe, the US, Russia, Canada and Japan. On completion the Space station is envisaged to measure over a hundred meters and weigh about 450 Tonnes. Its completion date is now under review but before the Columbia accident, it was planned for around 2006/2007.
10:01:42:00
As the International Space Station is such a large project its cons