Talk:Columbus (ISS module)

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[edit] Correct missing

The article says launch on STS-122, and then when I click the link the STS-122 article says that this mission will service Hubble. Something is wrong there.72.254.55.37 17:11, 22 January 2006 (UTC)

According to the Unofficial Space Shuttle Manifest [1] (a much more reliable source than the name indicates), there is currently no scheduled Hubble servicing mission. One remains on the manifest, to be flown at some point, but has not yet been assigned to a specific flight and given a date. STS-122 is, on current form, going to be the Columbus flight. Shimgray | talk | 17:28, 22 January 2006 (UTC)
I've corrected -122 to be an ISS mission, both on that page and the list of future flights. Shimgray | talk | 17:44, 22 January 2006 (UTC)

This is an excellent article, however I think the separate pages regarding each payload rack should be merged. Anyone else agree?

[edit] Imagery?

Is there any imagery of the inside of the module (as installed)? --69.20.226.30 (talk) 19:14, 13 February 2008 (UTC)

[edit] What does it do?

I've looked through the entire article and there isn't a single sentence that state simply what this module does. Is it just a storage compartment? Is it an astral observatory as reported on some news media? What is it? -134.50.14.44 (talk) 13:47, 16 February 2008 (UTC)

The article starts with the sentence, "Columbus is a science laboratory...." (sdsds - talk) 14:18, 16 February 2008 (UTC)

I believe your saying: Columbus is a science laboratory that is part of the International Space Station (ISS). That hardly answers the question, "What does it do?" So it's science laboratory, does it measure the albedo of the Earth; Solar wind; or how much methane the crew produces? Science laboratory is hardly a decent description of over 300 million people's tax dollars at work. 134.50.19.144 (talk) 22:25, 16 February 2008 (UTC)

"Science laboratory" is a high level summary term. Columbus provides the resources for experiments under microgravity inside and "space science" outside. For some experiments the necessary facilties are installed already in the launched Columbus, others - especially for space science - have still to be brought there and integrated in orbit. If you want to understand all features you must read the "Columbus Payload accommodation Handbook". The Europeans consider the scientific benefits and results being worth the 800 million Euros for the development though nobody can proof that finally it will pay off; thats actualy for all basic research activities the case.Hjpospie (talk) 15:11, 19 February 2008 (UTC)
This comment/question really points to the bigger issue, "Why doesn't this article link to laboratory?" The answer, perhaps, is that the "laboratory" article is little better than a stub, with no references. Improving that article, and then linking there, could help answer the question, "What does this (or any) laboratory do?" (sdsds - talk) 15:26, 25 February 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Columbus logo

IMHO, I would put the Columbus logo more up in the page, say at the beginning. What do you think? --161.111.139.248 (talk) 15:03, 11 April 2008 (UTC)