Andrew Yee[_1_]
July 19th 07, 05:28 PM
ESA News
http://www.esa.int
13 July 2007
Atlantis readies for Columbus mission
More than 500 years ago, the voyages of Christopher Columbus to the New
World and the discoveries he made caused quite a stir throughout Europe.
Today, excitement is building on both sides of the Atlantic as the
long-awaited launch of ESA's Columbus space laboratory grows closer, as NASA
starts processing Shuttle Atlantis in preparation for the mission.
Columbus was flown to Florida on 30 May 2006. Earlier this year, it was
removed from temporary storage, and the 12.8 tonne International Space
Station (ISS) module is now fully outfitted with its experiment racks and
orbital hardware.
At the moment, engineers are installing the trunnions that will secure the
4.5 metre diameter aluminium cylinder in the Shuttle payload bay. The next
step is to mount the panels that will protect the lab from potentially
damaging micrometeorite impacts.
After a summer break, the Columbus hatch will be reopened at the beginning
of October, when it will undergo final preparations for flight, including
leak checks on the water cooling system, a pressurisation check and the
switching on of electrical systems. Once the seals are in position on the
module's docking mechanism, it will be placed inside a canister for
transport to the launch pad.
"The launch of Columbus will be a major landmark in European space
exploration," said Bernardo Patti, Columbus Project Manager. "Columbus was
originally scheduled for launch in 2002, but delays in the construction of
the ISS and the tragic loss of Shuttle Columbia have put back the mission
five years.
"Once Columbus is operational, we will have a permanent presence on the
Station. We will own our own real estate. By providing the Automated
Transfer Vehicle and Columbus, ESA will be able to meet its scientific
objectives as a full partner, sharing resources with other ISS participants
rather than simply purchasing them."
Columbus will not be the only representative of ESA on the STS-122 Shuttle
flight. The crew of seven will include ESA astronauts Hans Schlegel and
Leopold Eyharts. Schlegel will play a key role in two spacewalks during
which he will help to install and power up Columbus and then position two
scientific payloads on the module's exterior. While Leopold Eyharts will
perform a large part of the activation and initial commissioning activities.
After the Shuttle heads for home, Eyharts and the other members of the
resident ISS crew will complete the commissioning of the laboratory and
conduct its first scientific experiments.
[NOTE: Images and weblinks supporting this release are available at
http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMJY2HYX3F_index_1.html ]
http://www.esa.int
13 July 2007
Atlantis readies for Columbus mission
More than 500 years ago, the voyages of Christopher Columbus to the New
World and the discoveries he made caused quite a stir throughout Europe.
Today, excitement is building on both sides of the Atlantic as the
long-awaited launch of ESA's Columbus space laboratory grows closer, as NASA
starts processing Shuttle Atlantis in preparation for the mission.
Columbus was flown to Florida on 30 May 2006. Earlier this year, it was
removed from temporary storage, and the 12.8 tonne International Space
Station (ISS) module is now fully outfitted with its experiment racks and
orbital hardware.
At the moment, engineers are installing the trunnions that will secure the
4.5 metre diameter aluminium cylinder in the Shuttle payload bay. The next
step is to mount the panels that will protect the lab from potentially
damaging micrometeorite impacts.
After a summer break, the Columbus hatch will be reopened at the beginning
of October, when it will undergo final preparations for flight, including
leak checks on the water cooling system, a pressurisation check and the
switching on of electrical systems. Once the seals are in position on the
module's docking mechanism, it will be placed inside a canister for
transport to the launch pad.
"The launch of Columbus will be a major landmark in European space
exploration," said Bernardo Patti, Columbus Project Manager. "Columbus was
originally scheduled for launch in 2002, but delays in the construction of
the ISS and the tragic loss of Shuttle Columbia have put back the mission
five years.
"Once Columbus is operational, we will have a permanent presence on the
Station. We will own our own real estate. By providing the Automated
Transfer Vehicle and Columbus, ESA will be able to meet its scientific
objectives as a full partner, sharing resources with other ISS participants
rather than simply purchasing them."
Columbus will not be the only representative of ESA on the STS-122 Shuttle
flight. The crew of seven will include ESA astronauts Hans Schlegel and
Leopold Eyharts. Schlegel will play a key role in two spacewalks during
which he will help to install and power up Columbus and then position two
scientific payloads on the module's exterior. While Leopold Eyharts will
perform a large part of the activation and initial commissioning activities.
After the Shuttle heads for home, Eyharts and the other members of the
resident ISS crew will complete the commissioning of the laboratory and
conduct its first scientific experiments.
[NOTE: Images and weblinks supporting this release are available at
http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMJY2HYX3F_index_1.html ]