The world’s ultimate observation deck, a control tower
for robotics in space, and a sunroom like no other, has
arrived at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (KSC). It is bound for
the International Space Station.
Built in Italy for the United States segment of the Station,
the Cupola traveled part way around the world to reach KSC.
One day it will circle the Earth every 90 minutes, and
crewmembers will peer through its 360-degree windows. It will
serve as a literal skylight to control some of the most
sophisticated robotics ever built.
“The Cupola module will be a fascinating addition to the
Space Station,” said International Space Station Program
Manager Bill Gerstenmaier. “The crew will have an improved
view of critical activities outside the Station and
breathtaking views of the Earth below.”
The crew will use Cupola windows, six around the sides and
one on the top, for line-of-sight monitoring of outside
activities, including spacewalks, docking operations and
exterior equipment surveys. The Cupola will be used
specifically to monitor the approach and berthing of the
Japanese H-2 supply craft and other visiting vehicles. The
Cupola will serve as the primary location for controlling
Canadarm2, the 60-foot Space Station robotic arm.
Space Station crews use two robotic control workstations in
the Destiny laboratory to operate the arm. One of the robotic
control stations will be placed inside the Cupola. The view
from the Cupola will enhance an arm operator’s situational
awareness, supplementing television cameras and graphics.
Construction of the Cupola by Alenia Spazio, under a contract
with the European Space Agency (ESA), is finished. It was
delivered to KSC on Oct. 7, where it will undergo acceptance
testing and launch preparations.
After initial inspections conducted in the Space Station
Processing Facility, the Cupola was secured inside its
transportation container for storage until launch
preparations begin. Before launch, KSC and European Space
Agency (ESA) engineers will conduct a joint inspection
leading to the turnover of the Cupola to NASA.
The Cupola is scheduled to launch on Station assembly mission
14A (Shuttle mission STS-133) in early 2009. It will be
installed on the forward port of Node 3, a connecting module
to be installed in 2008. The Cupola was provided by ESA to
NASA as part of a barter agreement. The agreement covers
launch of external payloads on the Shuttle for installation
on the External Facility of the European Columbus research
module.
Video of the Cupola arriving at KSC and background footage
will air in the NASA TV Video File today. NASA TV is
available in the continental U.S. on AMC-6, Transponder 9C,
C-Band, at 72 degrees west longitude. The frequency is 3880.0
MHz. Polarization is vertical, and audio is monaural at 6.80
MHz. In Alaska and Hawaii, NASA TV is available on AMC-7,
Transponder 18C, C-Band, at 137 degrees west longitude.
Frequency is 4060.0 MHz. Polarization is vertical, and audio
is monaural at 6.80 MHz. NASA TV is available on the Internet
at:
For images of the Cupola on the Internet, visit:
http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/station/cupola/ndxpage1.html
&
http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/index.cfm
For information about NASA and agency programs on the
Internet, visit:
