Exploration Opportunities with the European ISS Laboratory Module Columbus
- Paper number
IAC-08.B3.2.-D2.7.7
- Author
Dr. Herbert Schwartz, Astrium Space Transportation, Germany
- Coauthor
Mr. Stefan Wuebker, EADS Astrium Ltd., Germany
- Coauthor
Mr. Detlef Wilde, Astrium Space Transportation, Germany
- Year
2008
- Abstract
The European Laboratory Module Columbus, docked since February 2008 to the International Space Station ISS, offers a variety of opportunities to accommodate experiments for research under microgravity conditions in pressurized environment, and for experiments with exposure to space and with particular viewing directions between towards earth and towards space. We report in our paper particularly on the capabilities for accommodation of experiments, which Columbus has besides the known International Standard Payload Rack facilities. The pressurized compartment of Columbus offers in the cabin area at all rack front side seat tracks supporting attachment of small payloads. Access to resources, network communication, video, and electric power, is provided at dedicated interface panels. This accommodation offers a high flexibility to small tailored payloads. On the external hull Columbus has today fully operational one facility, the External Payload Facility, which accommodates in four locations experiments under space environment. A second facility for experiments is in preparation. The External Payload Facility is located at the starboard end cone of Columbus. It provides four similarly equipped experiment attachment locations, with surfaces pointing either to zenith (space), nadir (Earth), or horizontal, perpendicular to the direction of flight of the ISS. The second facility will be implemented as a support beam structure located along the module cylinder. It will be able to accommodate experiments on a length approximately 5m. Viewing will be possible towards zenith (space) and nadir. Both facilities provide network connection for low rate data (control), for high rate data (downlink), operational power and survival power.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
(absent)