Two cornerstone components for future research and
operations aboard the International Space Station are ready
to begin integrated testing at the Kennedy Space Center
(KSC).
The European-built, NASA-owned “Node 2” and the Japanese
Experiment Module (JEM) Pressurized Module will be linked up
on the ground for a trial run, before they are launched to
join the orbiting Space Station complex.
“We were all very pleased to see the two modules together in
the Space Station Processing Facility today,” said Bill
Gerstenmaier, NASA’s Station Program Manager. “Our teamwork
and dedication to continuing the assembly of the Station
shines through when a key milestone such as this is
realized.”
International Space Station Partner Program managers and
representatives met at KSC this week to welcome the modules
to the United States and to officially sign over ownership of
Node 2 from the European Space Agency (ESA) to NASA. Node 2
was built for NASA under a barter agreement with ESA. In
exchange for Node 2, NASA will launch the European Columbus
Laboratory on board a future Space Shuttle mission to the
Space Station.
The arrival at KSC of the JEM and its lifeline to the Space
Station, Node 2, coincided, so NASA can conduct multi-
element, integrated testing of the modules in the Space
Station Processing Facility before they are prepared for
launch.
The ground tests will validate the compatibility of the
modules in distributing power and system resources between
the research facilities. The installation of NASA’s Node 2
will signify the completion of the American portion of the
International Space Station, known as U.S. Core Complete.
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