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:''This article is about the space shuttle laboratory. For the space station of the 1970s, see Skylab. For the commercial company which also makes space shuttle laboratories and logistic modules, see SPACEHAB.''
'Spacelab' was a reusable laboratory flown into space on the Space Shuttle. It allowed scientists to perform experiments in a microgravity in Earth orbit. The laboratory consisted of multiple components, including a pressurized module, an unpressurized carrier and other related hardware.
In April 1973, NASA and ESRO (now European Space Agency (ESA)) agreed to build a modular science package for use on Space Shuttle flights. Construction of Spacelab started in 1974 by the ERNO (represented by VFW-Fokker GmbH, later bought by MBB, and since 2003 part of EADS SPACE Transportation). The first lab module, 'LM1', was given to NASA free of charge in exchange for flight opportunities for European astronauts. A second module, 'LM2', was bought by NASA for its own use. In addition to the two laboratory modules, there was also a series of external pallets for experiments in vacuum, built by British Aerospace (BAe).
A Spacelab component was used on 25 shuttle flights, but the components were decommissioned in 1998. Science work was to be moved to the International Space Station and Spacehab module, a pressurized carrier similar to the Spacelab Module. A Spacelab Pallet was recommissioned in 2002 for flight on STS-99, and future use is likely. Currently scheduled are "Spacelab Pallet - Deployable 1 (SLP-D1) with Canadian Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator, Dextre" on STS-123 and "Spacelab Pallet - Deployable 2 (SLP-D2)" on STS-127.
The 'LM1' is now on display in the ''Bremenhalle'' exhibition in the Bremen Airport of Bremen, Germany.
The Spacelab Module consists of a large cylindrical main laboratory that is flown in the rear of the Space Shuttle cargo bay, connected to the crew compartment by a long tube. The laboratory had an outer diameter of 4.06 m, and each segment a length of 2.7 m. Most of the time two segments were used in forming the Double Module configuration.
The Spacelab Pallet is a U-shaped platform for mounting instrumentation, large instruments, experiments requiring exposure to space, and instruments requiring a large field of view, such as telescopes. The pallet has several hard points for mounting heavy equipment. The pallet can be used in single configuration or stacked end to end in double or triple configurations.
Other Spacelab elements include the tunnel, Igloo, and the Instrument Pointing System (IPS).
★ STS-9, Spacelab 1, November 1983, Module LM1 and Pallet (''Columbia'')
★ STS-51-B, Spacelab 3, April 1985, Module LM1 (''Challenger'')
★ STS-51-F, Spacelab 2, July 1985, triple Pallet configuration (''Challenger'')
★ STS-61-A, Spacelab D1, October 1985, Module LM2 (''Challenger'')
★ STS-35, ASTRO-1, December 1990, Pallet (''Columbia'')
★ STS-40, SLS-1, June 1991, Module LM1 (''Columbia'')
★ STS-42, IML-1, January 1992, Module LM2 (''Discovery'')
★ STS-45, ATLAS-1, March 1992, double Pallet configuration (''Atlantis'')
★ STS-50, USML-1, June 1992, Module LM1 (''Columbia'')
★ STS-47, Spacelab-J, September 1992, Module LM2 (''Endeavour'')
★ STS-56, ATLAS-2, April 1993, Pallet (''Discovery'')
★ STS-55, Spacelab D2, April 1993, Module LM1 (''Columbia'')
★ STS-58, SLS-2, October 1993, Module LM2 (''Columbia'')
★ STS-59, SRL-1, April 1994, Pallet (''Endeavour'')
★ STS-65, IML-2, July 1994, Module LM1 (''Columbia'')
★ STS-68, SRL-2, October 1994, Pallet (''Endeavour'')
★ STS-66, ATLAS-3, November 1994, Pallet (''Atlantis'')
★ STS-67, ASTRO-2, March 1995, Pallet (''Endeavour'')
★ STS-71, Spacelab-Mir, June 1995, Module LM2 (''Atlantis'')
★ STS-73, USML-2, October 1995, Module LM1 (''Columbia'')
★ STS-78, LMS, June 1996, Module LM2 (''Columbia'')
★ STS-83, MSL-1, April 1997, Module LM1 (''Columbia'')
★ STS-94, MSL-1R, July 1997, Module LM1 (''Columbia'')
★ STS-90, Neurolab, April 1998, Module LM2 (''Columbia'')
★ STS-99, SRTM, February 2000, Pallet (''Endeavour'')
★ STS-92, PMA-3, October 2000, Pallet (''Discovery'')
★ STS-108, December 2001, Lightweight Mission Peculiar Support Structure Carrier (LMC) (''Endeavour'')
★ Spacelab components on Nasa.gov
★ Spacelab history on Nasa.gov
Shuttle ''Columbia'' during STS-50 with Spacelab Module LM1 and tunnel in its cargo bay.
'Spacelab' was a reusable laboratory flown into space on the Space Shuttle. It allowed scientists to perform experiments in a microgravity in Earth orbit. The laboratory consisted of multiple components, including a pressurized module, an unpressurized carrier and other related hardware.
| Contents |
| History |
| Description |
| Spacelab missions |
| Other missions |
| External links |
History
In April 1973, NASA and ESRO (now European Space Agency (ESA)) agreed to build a modular science package for use on Space Shuttle flights. Construction of Spacelab started in 1974 by the ERNO (represented by VFW-Fokker GmbH, later bought by MBB, and since 2003 part of EADS SPACE Transportation). The first lab module, 'LM1', was given to NASA free of charge in exchange for flight opportunities for European astronauts. A second module, 'LM2', was bought by NASA for its own use. In addition to the two laboratory modules, there was also a series of external pallets for experiments in vacuum, built by British Aerospace (BAe).
A Spacelab component was used on 25 shuttle flights, but the components were decommissioned in 1998. Science work was to be moved to the International Space Station and Spacehab module, a pressurized carrier similar to the Spacelab Module. A Spacelab Pallet was recommissioned in 2002 for flight on STS-99, and future use is likely. Currently scheduled are "Spacelab Pallet - Deployable 1 (SLP-D1) with Canadian Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator, Dextre" on STS-123 and "Spacelab Pallet - Deployable 2 (SLP-D2)" on STS-127.
The 'LM1' is now on display in the ''Bremenhalle'' exhibition in the Bremen Airport of Bremen, Germany.
Description
Spacelab layout showing tunnel, pressurized Module and Pallet.
The Spacelab Module consists of a large cylindrical main laboratory that is flown in the rear of the Space Shuttle cargo bay, connected to the crew compartment by a long tube. The laboratory had an outer diameter of 4.06 m, and each segment a length of 2.7 m. Most of the time two segments were used in forming the Double Module configuration.
The Spacelab Pallet is a U-shaped platform for mounting instrumentation, large instruments, experiments requiring exposure to space, and instruments requiring a large field of view, such as telescopes. The pallet has several hard points for mounting heavy equipment. The pallet can be used in single configuration or stacked end to end in double or triple configurations.
Other Spacelab elements include the tunnel, Igloo, and the Instrument Pointing System (IPS).
Spacelab missions
Spacelab in payload bay during STS-90.
★ STS-9, Spacelab 1, November 1983, Module LM1 and Pallet (''Columbia'')
★ STS-51-B, Spacelab 3, April 1985, Module LM1 (''Challenger'')
★ STS-51-F, Spacelab 2, July 1985, triple Pallet configuration (''Challenger'')
★ STS-61-A, Spacelab D1, October 1985, Module LM2 (''Challenger'')
★ STS-35, ASTRO-1, December 1990, Pallet (''Columbia'')
★ STS-40, SLS-1, June 1991, Module LM1 (''Columbia'')
★ STS-42, IML-1, January 1992, Module LM2 (''Discovery'')
★ STS-45, ATLAS-1, March 1992, double Pallet configuration (''Atlantis'')
★ STS-50, USML-1, June 1992, Module LM1 (''Columbia'')
★ STS-47, Spacelab-J, September 1992, Module LM2 (''Endeavour'')
★ STS-56, ATLAS-2, April 1993, Pallet (''Discovery'')
★ STS-55, Spacelab D2, April 1993, Module LM1 (''Columbia'')
★ STS-58, SLS-2, October 1993, Module LM2 (''Columbia'')
★ STS-59, SRL-1, April 1994, Pallet (''Endeavour'')
★ STS-65, IML-2, July 1994, Module LM1 (''Columbia'')
★ STS-68, SRL-2, October 1994, Pallet (''Endeavour'')
★ STS-66, ATLAS-3, November 1994, Pallet (''Atlantis'')
★ STS-67, ASTRO-2, March 1995, Pallet (''Endeavour'')
★ STS-71, Spacelab-Mir, June 1995, Module LM2 (''Atlantis'')
★ STS-73, USML-2, October 1995, Module LM1 (''Columbia'')
★ STS-78, LMS, June 1996, Module LM2 (''Columbia'')
★ STS-83, MSL-1, April 1997, Module LM1 (''Columbia'')
★ STS-94, MSL-1R, July 1997, Module LM1 (''Columbia'')
★ STS-90, Neurolab, April 1998, Module LM2 (''Columbia'')
★ STS-99, SRTM, February 2000, Pallet (''Endeavour'')
Other missions
★ STS-92, PMA-3, October 2000, Pallet (''Discovery'')
★ STS-108, December 2001, Lightweight Mission Peculiar Support Structure Carrier (LMC) (''Endeavour'')
External links
★ Spacelab components on Nasa.gov
★ Spacelab history on Nasa.gov
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