Space laboratory Columbus in the shuttle's loading bay
Space laboratory Columbus in the shuttle's loading bay
The European space laboratory Columbus on 8 February 2008, en route to its destination: Space Shuttle Atlantis carries the laboratory to the International Space Station ISS in its loading bay.
The installation and start of operations of the Columbus laboratory were the starting point for a long-term European presence on the International Space Station ISS. With its projected 10-year lifespan, Columbus is the first European space laboratory for long-term research under space conditions.
