Cupola (ISS)
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The Cupola is an ESA-built observatory module of the International Space Station (ISS). Once installed, it will provide astronauts with a direct view of robotic operations and docked spacecraft, as well as a spectacular observation point for watching Earth.
Designed and built by the Italian contractor Alenia, it is approximately 2 meters in diameter and 1.5 meters tall. It has six side windows and a top window, all of which are equipped with shutters to protect them from damage by micrometeorites and orbital debris. It features a thermal control system, audio, video and MIL-STD-1553 bus interfaces, as well as the connections needed for installing in it one of the two identical robotic workstations that control the Canadarm2. Cupola is expected to be launched aboard STS-132 around April 2010. It will initially be installed on Node 1 and later be transferred to Node 3 of the space station.
Completion of the development phase was marked by an ESA ceremony at the Alenia Spazio facility in Turin, Italy on September 6, 2004. ESA will give the cupola to NASA in exchange for the transport of 5 external payloads.
[edit] Specifications
- Overall height: 1.5 m
- Maximum diameter: 2.95 m
- Mass: 1,880 kg
[edit] External links
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Already launched: Zarya | Unity (Node 1) | Zvezda | Destiny | Quest airlock | Pirs airlock Launched periodically: Multi-Purpose Logistics Module Scheduled for Shuttle: Harmony (Node 2) | Columbus | Kibō | SPDM | Node 3 | Cupola Scheduled for Proton: Multipurpose Laboratory Module | European Robotic Arm | Russian Research Module Other subsystems: Integrated Truss Structure | Canadarm2 Canceled or unused: Interim Control Module | Universal Docking Module | Docking and Stowage Module | Habitation Module | Crew Return Vehicle | Propulsion Module Ships: Soyuz | Progress | H-II Transfer Vehicle | Automated Transfer Vehicle See also: assembly sequence |
