Science Lab Attached To Space Station

Astronauts Anchor 23-Foot, 14-Ton Lab That Was Ferried Up By Space Shuttle Atlantis

(AP)  Europe's shiny new $2 billion science lab, Columbus, was anchored to the international space station on Monday by a team of astronauts laboring inside and out.

"A great day for Europe," said the European Space Agency's station program manager, Alan Thirkettle. "She looks just beautiful."

French astronaut Leopold Eyharts announced its arrival. Installation was an exhausting daylong affair that took more time than expected.

The grand finale - the actual attachment of the 23-foot, 14-ton lab that was ferried up by Atlantis - took place at the end of an extra-long spacewalk by Rex Walheim and Stanley Love. The astronauts shouted and cheered when the lab reached its destination; so did flight controllers.

Germany's recovering astronaut, Hans Schlegel, was stuck inside the whole time. He was supposed to float outside with Walheim to help with Columbus' hookup but got sick after last week's liftoff and was replaced by Love.

The last-minute switch in crew led NASA to delay Columbus' installation by a day and lengthen Atlantis' space station visit.

U.S. and European space officials have refused to divulge the illness. Thirkettle said it was disappointing that a European was not part of Monday's spacewalking team but noted, "It was extremely important for us that Columbus was attached properly today."

Even though two Americans ended up doing all the outside work, it was still a momentous occasion for the European Space Agency, which waited years to see Columbus fly. The lab was supposed to go up in 1992 to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the sailing of Christopher Columbus, but space station and then shuttle problems delayed everything.

As Columbus was lifted by a robot arm out of Atlantis, astronaut Daniel Tani reported: "Columbus has started its trip to the New World."

Columbus expanded the almost 10-year-old space station to eight rooms. It attached directly to the Harmony compartment that arrived last fall. Another of Harmony's docking ports will be occupied by Japan's new lab once it launches in the spring.

The 10 astronauts aboard the linked shuttle and station will wait until Tuesday before entering Columbus.

"The mechanical guys have done their bit. Tomorrow morning, we get the electricians and the plumbers in to hook us up," Thirkettle said Monday evening.

Additional work on the lab's exterior will be performed during a second spacewalk Wednesday and a third Friday. Unless flight surgeons object, Schlegel is expected to make Wednesday's spacewalk, along with Walheim.

During Monday's outing, Walheim and Love ended up falling behind. They removed protective covers from Columbus and plugged in a grappling pin for the robot arm, and completed some other chores although not everything. They stopped to rest as the spacewalk dragged on; it lasted eight hours, 1½ hours longer than planned.

"Man, you guys have done an amazing job," shuttle commander Stephen Frick told the weary spacewalkers at the six-hour mark. "We're looking out our window here at Columbus, about halfway there."

Operating the space station's robot arm - and hoisting Columbus - was astronaut Leland Melvin, a former wide receiver and NFL draft pick.


For more information on the STS-122 mission visit the NASA Web site: spaceflight.nasa.gov

[guadalcanal3]

Those of you who truly believe that NASA is a waste of taxpayers money should stop using the internet and turn off your cellphones and stop using space technology to voice your very unimaginitive opinions.

[rushlimpdrug]

A science lab attached to a space station.
Who would have ever thought?

I would have thought they would have attached a topless bar and studied that science.

[valendug]

Wow, a whole 200 miles above the planet earth, how exciting. What a waste of more taxpayers'' money.

[ibzjem]

Without this science and engineering we''d all be stuck with Cable, having no Satellite TV options. Imagine that!!!

Makes me shivvvverrrr.

[sevenveils]

What a fantastic accomplishment. This is a major milestone in international cooperation and space science.

This event marks the beginning of using the International Space Station as intended, not merely an oasis in space, but an actual science research center. Kudos to all that have kept the dream of space exploration alive.

[macusweil]

GREAT us of taxpayer money..

much better than golf outings in Scotland for GOP elite, or no-bid contracts to pay for right wing mercenaries in Iraq.

In fact the record spend by the Republican party under Bush these past 6+ years has pretty much yielded a GIANT goose egg for the US taxpayer. Now that''s the real waste of money!! LOL

[imnho]

A good use of the taxpayers money.

[fstop100]

A waste of taxpayers money. NASA is a FUBAR