Atlantis is Go!

The space shuttle Atlantis is flying STS-122, the 24th space shuttle flight to the ISS. It’s mission is to install the the ESA’s Columbus Laboratory module onto the ISS. The Columbus lab is a 4.5 meter long module containing a number of miniature science laboratories house in standard payload racks. This is a pretty important milestone for the ISS because the Columbus lab is the second major science laboratory available on the station, the first being the US Destiny module. The Destiny lab has already provided a significant platform for science research and the Columbus only adds to the station’s overall capability. I’m continually impressed that one of the most complex things people have ever designed and built is traveling at 17,000mph 250 miles above my head.