The European Space Agency’s research laboratory, designated Columbus, will arrive at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on May 30. There it will be prepared for delivery to the International Space Station on a future space shuttle mission. NASA will hold a series of media events from May 31 to June 2 in conjunction with the lab’s arrival.
Columbus is being flown to Kennedy from its manufacturer in Germany. Columbus will expand the research facilities of the station and provide researchers with the ability to conduct numerous experiments in the area of life, physical and materials sciences. Media activities for the lab’s arrival include the following (all times are EDT):
May 31: Photo opportunity from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the Shuttle Landing Facility, featuring the opening of the aircraft and the offloading of Columbus.
June 1: Photo opportunity from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. at the Space Station Processing Facility, featuring Columbus being lifted into the cargo element work stand.
Media interested in attending the photo opportunities should contact Tracy Young at (321) 867-2468.
June 2: NASA will welcome Columbus during a ceremony at 10 a.m. at the Space Station Processing Facility. The ceremony participants are:
- William Gerstenmaier, NASA associate administrator for Space Operations
- Alan Thirkettle, International Space Station program manager, European Space Agency
- Jim Kennedy, director, Kennedy Space Center
- Russell Romanella, director, International Space Station and Payloads Processing
Permanently badged media planning to attend the June 2 ceremony must arrive at Kennedy’s press site by 9 a.m. for transportation to the processing facility. U.S. media without Kennedy credentials can apply for accreditation via the online media accreditation Web site at:
Accreditation for foreign news media is closed.
The photo opportunities and arrival ceremony will occur in operational areas. Everyone in attendance will be required to wear long pants and flat, closed shoes. Sleeveless shirts are not allowed.
Video highlights of the Columbus arrival activities will air on the NASA TV Video File segment on the Media Channel the afternoon of June 2.
NASA TV’s Public, Education and Media channels are available on an MPEG-2 digital C-band signal accessed via satellite AMC-6, at 72 degrees west longitude, transponder 17C, 4040 MHz, vertical polarization. In Alaska and Hawaii, they are on AMC-7 at 237 degrees west longitude, transponder 18C, at 4060 MHz, horizontal polarization. For digital downlink information, visit:
For further information on Columbus and the International Space Station, visit:
