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Room with an out-of-this-world view arrives at NASA NASA NEWS RELEASE Posted: October 12, 2004 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.
"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.
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The Cupola module for the International Space Station arrives at Kennedy Space Center for its eventual launch aboard a space shuttle mission in early 2009. (3min 19sec file)
An interview with Tom Howard, the Cupola element manager at Kennedy Space Center, discusses the module's use on the space station. (46sec file)
NASA astronauts Peggy Whitson and Sandy Magnus practice operating the space station's robot arm in the Cupola module mockup at Johnson Space Center. (2min 18sec file)
Technicians attach the escape tower and mount the Soyuz TMA-5 capsule to the launch vehicle's core stage during final assembly of the Soyuz rocket that will carry the Expedition 10 crew. (1min 37sec file)
The Expedition 10 crew's Soyuz rocket is transported by locomotive from its assembly hangar to the Baikonur Cosmodrome launch pad at sunrise on Oct. 12. (2min 02sec file)
The Soyuz rocket is lifted upright to stand on the launch pad following its morning rollout in preparation for liftoff to the International Space Station. (1min 18sec file)
Preview what a Boeing Delta 4 rocket launch will be like with this animation package of a "Heavy" configuration vehicle. (1min 41sec file)
This amazing panorama of the martian surface at Columbia Hills was taken by the Spirit rover. Expert narration is provided by camera scientist Jim Bell. (2min 12sec file)
Mars Exploration Rover project manager Jim Erickson and panoramic camera lead scientist Jim Bell offer comments on the status of the Spirit and Opportunity missions (1min 33sec file)
