The ISS Columbus Laboratory

The Columbus Laboratory is the European Space Agency's (ESA) largest contribution to the International Space Station. Launched by the Space Shuttle Atlantis on Feb. 7, 2008, the Columbus allows European and international scientists to perform essential zero-gravity tests.

Delays and Launch Date

The Columbus Laboratory was scheduled to launch on Dec. 6, 2007 from NASA's Kennedy Space Center. Unfortunately, a problem with Atlantis' sensors pushed the launch back a few days to Dec. 9, 2007. However, the second launch attempt was also postponed due to faulty sensors. Ultimately, on Feb. 7, 2008, Atlantis successfully launched with the Columbus Laboratory secured in its payload dock.
 
The Columbus Laboratory would be attached to the Harmony node on the ISS, originally dubbed Node 2. Attaching the Columbus would require the use of the ISS Canadarm2 and a two-astronaut space walk.
 

Columbus Laboratory Dimensions
The Columbus laboratory is 23 feet long and 15 feet wide. The lab's mass in orbit is 19,300 kg, including a payload of 10,500 kg.

Science and the Columbus Laboratory

Columbus is equipped with modular science racks, each approximately the size of a telephone booth. The Columbus Laboratory design allows for 10 such racks, with eight racks along the walls and two overhead.

Not all racks were installed at launch. Instead, Columbus entered orbit with five racks. The remaining racks will be delivered in future space shuttle missions.

The five racks installed at launch time included the following components:
  • A Biolab is an area capable of sustaining experiments on micro-organisms, tissue cells and small plants and insects.

  • The European Drawer Rack is a multipurpose science rack that can accommodate a broad range of experiments across multiple scientific disciplines.

  • The European Physiology Modules Facility is a rack dedicated to examining the effects of living in space on the human body. In addition to providing valuable research for spaceflights, EPM data will also benefit earthbound human ailments, such as bone density loss.

  • The European Transport Carrier is both a storage rack and the workbench of the Columbus laboratory.

  • The Fluid Science Laboratory rack is dedicated to the study of liquids in a zero-gravity environment. These experiments will also have application back on Earth as scientists better understand the complexities of fluidity.
While five of the Columbus laboratory racks are intended for the sole use of the ESA, the remaining five racks are for NASA's use, as laid out in an agreement reached by NASA and the ESA. Three of the 10 racks are dedicated to life support systems.

Outside the Columbus Laboratory

While the racks inside the Columbus Laboratory are impressive enough, experiments can also be conducted at four securing points on the outer hull of the lab. Experiment packages on the outside of the Columbus Laboratory can:
  • monitor solar activity
  • observe how materials and micro-organisms react in space
  • record information on the Earth from orbit.
Results from experiments in and outside the Columbus Laboratory are transmitted to the Columbus Control Center in Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany. Researchers working at user centers across Europe can control and interact with their experiments by relaying information through the Control Center.
 
Resources
 
European Space Agency (n.d.). Columbus Laboratory. Retrieved February 6, 2008, from the European Space Agency Web site.
 
European Space Agency (7 February 2008). Europe's Columbus Laboratory Leaves Earth. Retrieved February 7, 2008, from the European Space Agency Web site.
 
Mansfield, C. (23 May 2006). Columbus Leaves Europe, heads for America. Retrieved February 7, 2008, from the NASA Web site.