Hello Columbus

A decade and a half after its initial target date, the ISS's science lab opens its hatches

By Gregory Mone Posted 02.13.2008 at 4:41 pm 5 Comments

Columbus Space Lab NASA

Finally. NASA astronauts installed the $2-billion science laboratory known as Columbus as a new wing of International Space Station on Monday. Yesterday morning, European astronauts officially opened the hatches, and began the process of bringing the computer, cooling and ventilation systems online. Plagued by delays the 14-ton module, was actually supposed to go up in 1992, and honor the 500th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’s famous trip—hence the name. Clearly, though, we missed that target date.

This Friday, astronauts will install two new components outside the lab, including the SOLAR observatory, which is designed to monitor the sun, and the European Technology Exposure Facility, which will expose eight different experiments to the space environment.

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5 Comments

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Maddcow

from Waterloo, Wisconsin

02/13/08 at 6:09 pm

This is really good that they're doing this. Too bad it took so long!

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whzych

02/14/08 at 11:20 am

NASA has hit another milestone in aerospace history by being a decade and a half late!
This is poor management at its best! If problems with the shuttle were to blame then they have no excuses for not using any one of another options to lift this cargo into orbit. Many booster rockets were readily available to do the task as needed.
As for the shuttle? I just love thair plans to spend billions on a project and then completely scrap it without any thought of how it may be utilized.
Hey rocket scientists:
If re-entry is the problem then how about maybe send it up and leave it there? Safety; as a back up life boat?
A space tugboat for moon missions? It would have much more room for astronauts and cargo then a small capsule that you plan to use again! Its original purpose of repairing satelites could also continue!
Unmanned booster rockets could launch fuel into space for it safely and cheaper too!

But thats ok, Like the identity theft commercial says "Hey its not my money!" right?

I think its long overdue for the nasa space program to get with the program in thought, planning, and management!

Thanks?

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edcarter03

02/15/08 at 8:47 am

@whzych: I'm no rocket scientist but I'm pretty sure the guys over at NASA are. I think they may have considered some of those things and ruled them out for whatever reason. Let's give those Ph.D.s a little credit.

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hyflyer06

02/15/08 at 1:29 pm

whzych Wrote "If re-entry is the problem then how about maybe send it up and leave it there?"

whzych, most people do not realize, even outside the atmoshere, objects fall subject to earths gravity. The only reason astronauts are not forced into the floors of their space shuttles is because both them and their shuttles are falling into earth at the same rate (some value below 9.81m/s^2). So sattelites can only stay in orbit for a period of time. And if there was no effect of gravity on these satellites there would be no orbit!!!!! So like edcarter wrote.....Leave it to the Ph.D's because obviously you are not qualified.....

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whzych

02/15/08 at 7:58 pm

I guess neither of you read the part about trying to refuel it in space so it didnt just sit up there dead waiting to fall back to earth?
If we can build a space station in space I think fueling a space shuttle shouldnt be too much of a challenge! After all they are planning to leap frog to Mars and that would include refueling stops along the way!