Artists impression of the Columbus laboratory. (Courtesy of ESA, D. Ducros)
The European Space Agency’s largest single contribution to the International Space Station, the Columbus laboratory has been launched (07 February 2008) into orbit on board Space Shuttle Atlantis to dock with the International Space Station.
With a 10 year projected lifespan, the 4.5-metre diameter cylindrical module, equipped with flexible research facilities, will enable earth-based researchers, together with the International Space Station crew, to conduct thousands of scientific experiments in the weightlessness of orbit.
A group of UCD researchers, led by Dr David Browne from the UCD School of Electric, Electronic and Mechanical Engineering are at the forefront of coordinating and driving initiatives which the ESA is planning for the future use of this laboratory.
“With these incredible experimental facilities available, we can become much more ambitious with our research,” says Dr Browne. The UCD team is actively supporting ground based research which will lead to new near zero-gravity experiments on Columbus.
“Ireland may still be some way from producing its first astronaut, but we are developing the scientific ideas which will keep European ISS astronauts busy in years to come, hopefully inspiring Irish children to become space-bound.”
ESA funding for Irish space-related R&D is managed by Enterprise Ireland
