21 November 2007
Columbus on the launch pad
Preparations for the launch of Columbus are going on. Meanwhile the laboratory and the integrated cargo carrier, both built by Astrium, have been installed in the Space Shuttle cargo bay. Click on the images below to see the full photo series.
Photos © NASA
05 November 2007
COLUMBUS Installation into the Canister
After having passed the mass properties check Columbus was transferred by the Space Station Processing Facility (SSPF) Hi Bay crane to the Canister. The Canister is a transport container representing the geometry of the Space Shuttle cargo bay and providing weather protection and full climate control for the Shuttle payloads while they are transferred from the SSPF to the launch pad.
29 October 2007
After a successful "Flight Acceptance Review" Astrium Space Transportation handed over the Columbus laboratory to ESA in line with the agreement. The laboratory can now be integrated into the Space Shuttle cargo bay. The launch of Columbus to the International Space Station ISS is scheduled for December 6, 2007.
Removal of the Upper Rings from COLUMBUS Integration Stand,
Soft Mock Up Fit Check, ICC Lite
Photos © EADS Astrium 2007/ Peter Sperling/ Stefan Wübker
11 October 2007
The preparations for the launch of the Columbus laboratory continue. Teams from Astrium and NASA are currently doing final inspections at NASA's Space Station Processing Facility (SSPF) at Kennedy Space Centre, Florida. Columbus is under preparation in the SSPF for launch into orbit with Space Shuttle Atlantis on flight STS-122.
The Columbus laboratory at NASA's Space Station
Processing Facility (SSPF) at Kennedy Space Centre, Florida.
Photos © EADS Astrium 2007
Activities over the past weeks (reported by the project):
Active Thermal Control System
The degassing of the ATCS (Active Thermal Control System) has been continued during this reporting period and could be finalized. The Thermal Control System check out has been performed without any anomalies
Microbial Sampling
NASA took samples from various locations in the module in order to determine microbes' population, which might be present in the module and which will be removed in that case.
Installation of Rack Cargo Brackets
The Rack Cargo Brackets have been installed in Rack F3 position. This will allow the accommodation of the MARES ISPR in-orbit in that position. All other Rack Cargo Brackets and Rack Ground Brackets have been removed from the forward bays. For this activity the module had to be rotated by 180 degrees.
MDPS Panel Modification and Installation
The MDPS (Meteorite and Debris Protection System) panel, which is located above the PDGF, has been modified. A cut out has been added which still allows the installation of the PDGF in orbit even in the unlikely case that this panel can not be removed. Two MDPS panels have been re-installed and the crimping of a tether to a MDPS bolt could be finalized so that also the last MDPS panel could be finally installed.
ATCS Water Loop Activities
The module has been connected to the EGSE (Electrical Ground System) and to the FGSE (Fluidic Ground Support System). The EGSE has been activated and the computer system of the module has been booted up. The water of the ATCS (Active Thermal Control System) has been exchanged for the last time before flight in order to achieve the required flight water quality and composition. In addition the first de-gassing campaign has been performed aiming at removing the maximum possible of remaining gas out of the system. By this means the crew time needed in orbit to operate the module is minimized.
Crew Walk Down
The COLUMBUS mission flight crew performed a Walk Down during which the crew members familiarize themselves for a last time with the COLUMBUS items, which they will handle in orbit during preparation for module berthing to the station and during activation. The crew members concentrated on the PDGF, hand rails, the scuff plates MLI and other EVA equipment mounted to COLUMBUS.
Photos © EADS Space Transportation / Kurt Henseler / Thomas Ernsting
