Columbus (ISS module)
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de:Columbus Raumlabor fr:Columbus Orbital Facility pt:Columbus (ISS)
ISS_Columbus_module.jpg
Columbus is a science laboratory designed to be a part of the International Space Station. Contracted by ESA, with EADS SPACE Transportation as prime contractor, it is integrated at its facilities in Bremen, Germany. The Columbus flight structure, the micro-meteorite protection system, the active and passive thermal control, the environmental control, the harness and all the related ground support equipment, were built by Alenia Spazio in Turin, Italy.
Columbus is designed for ten years of operations. Launch is set for 2007 on STS-122, the ninth Shuttle flight after Return to Flight.
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Description
The laboratory is a cylindrical module designed to fit in the cargo bay of the Space Shuttle, very similar in shape to the Multi-Purpose Logistics Module. Once launched with Flight 1E, it will subsequently be attached at the Node 2's starboard side, with the cyclinder pointing outwards. The hatch is located in the port cone, most on-board computers in the starboard cone. The module contains 10 International Standard Payload Racks (ISPRs). 4 racks are located on the forward side, 4 on the aft side, 2 are in overhead locations. 3 deck racks are filled with life support and cooling systems, the remaining deck rack and 2 overhead racks are storage racks. Additional 4 Payloads can be attached as external payloads outside the port cone.
The following ISPR payloads will be initially installed inside Columbus:
- Fluid Science Laboratory (FSL)
- European Physiology Module (EPM)
- Biolab
- European Drawer Rack (EDR)
- European Stowage Rack
External payloads mounted on Columbus include:
- European Technology Exposure Facility (EUTEF)
- Solar Monitoring Observatory (SMO)
- ACES
- SPORT
Specifications
- Length: 6.871 m
- Diameter: 4.487 m
- Mass without payload: 10300 kg
- Total mass (incl payloads): 19300 kg
History
ESA's Board of Directors approved the Columbus program in 1985. From then on, numerous proposals were made. Initially it was to be Europe's own space station, serviced by the Hermes shuttle. One variant would have included a free-flying unmanned experimentation platform, an Attached Pressurized Module (APM), and a communication satellite providing a link between both and to the ground.
It was eventually decided to make Columbus part of the greater International Space Station. After several budget cuts, all that remained was the APM, renamed to Columbus Orbital Facility. The structure used is very similar to the Multi-Purpose Logistics Module, a module built for NASA by Alenia Spazio. In 2000 the structure subsystem was delivered to EADS SPACE Transportation facilities as a pre-integrated module, with final integration and system testing to be performed by the prime contractor.
External links
- ESA: Columbus Laboratory (http://www.esa.int/export/esaHS/ESAAYI0VMOC_iss_0.html)
- ESA: Technichal specifications of the Columbus Laboratory (http://www.esa.int/export/esaHS/ESAFRG0VMOC_iss_0.html)
- ESA: Columbus structure completed (http://www.esa.int/esaCP/Pr_25_2000_p_EN.html)