NASA: Space Shuttle Endeavour with Tranquility Module

Picture: NASA / EPA

With a spectacular backdrop of the blue and white Earth, space shuttle Endeavour is featured in this image photographed by an Expedition 22 crew member as the shuttle approaches the International Space Station

Click here for more exciting pictures from the mission

ESA Cupola Installed on Node 3: Tranquility on ISS

Outside Looking in
NASA astronaut Robert Behnken, STS-130 mission specialist, participates in the mission's second session of extravehicular activity (EVA) as construction and maintenance continue on the International Space Station.

More Cupola pics here - Click!

During the five-hour, 54-minute spacewalk, Behnken and astronaut Nicholas Patrick (out of frame), mission specialist, connected two ammonia coolant loops, installed thermal covers around the ammonia hoses, outfitted the Earth-facing port on the Node-3 for the relocation of its Cupola, and installed handrails and a vent valve on the new module. (NASA image S130-E-007858, 14 February 2010)

The biggest window ever launched to space has been installed in its final position on the Earth-facing port of Node-3. The latches and 16 electrically driven bolts were engaged today at 07:31 CET (06:31 GMT). Opening of the window shutters is foreseen for Wednesday.

During the launch of Endeavour the Cupola was attached to Node-3’s end cone docking port, After installing Node-3 on Friday and preparing Cupola for relocation, Cupola was this morning released and manoeuvred to the Node-3’s Earth-facing port where it was reberthed.

Electrical and water lines are now being connected between Node-3 and Cupola, and the Cupola’s window heaters are being activated. Activities related to making Node-3 fully functional also continue.

ESA Node 3 and Cupola (Tranquility Module) Installation

Fabulous picture from the Astronauts of the Space Shuttle Endeavour and ISS, showing the removal of ESA's Node3 from the Shuttle cargobay and the placement of it, prior to installation.

They opened the hatches between Node-1 and Node-3 at 03:17 CET (02:17 GMT) this morning and entered their new module.

For the moment, the module remains passive, with temporary lighting and ventilation, while it is prepared for the relocation of the Cupola window module.

With Node-3 now a part of the International Space Station (ISS), the first racks are being installed. This includes the advanced Resistive Exercise Device and the Air Revitalization System.

The four additional racks – two Water Recovery System racks, the Oxygen Generation System rack and the Waste and Hygiene Compartment – may be installed on the final day of the Shuttle mission if an additional day can be added. Otherwise, they will be moved into Node-3 after the Shuttle departs.

Read the full article on the ESA website - click here ..

ESA: Node 3 and Cupola - Tranquility Module

ESA's Director of Human Spaceflight, Mrs. Simonetta Di Pippo and ESA's Head of Node 3 and Cupola Project Office, Mr. Philippe Deloo explain the importance of Node 3 and Cupola to the ISS and Europe.

ESA Node 3 and Cupola - Tranquility Module

Space Shuttle Endeavour will be launched at 10:39 CET on Sunday 7 February towards the International Space Station with two sophisticated modules from Europe: Node-3 ('Tranquility') and Cupola. Their installation will pave the way to completion of the ISS, with more than a third of the pressurised station elements designed, developed and built in Europe.

Node-3 is part of the Columbus launch barter agreement with NASA under which ESA supplied two of the connecting nodes (Node-2 and -3) for the International Space Station (ISS) and additional high-technology laboratory equipment and services to NASA in return for launching Europe’s Columbus laboratory to the ISS in February 2008. Cupola is covered by a separate barter agreement in exchange of the launch and return of five ESA payloads by NASA.

Node-3 will provide more space for equipment and the astronauts. Cupola, the largest and most complex window assembly ever launched into space, will find its home on the Earth-facing port of Node-3. It will provide a unique vantage point for observing Earth and for crew recreation.

ESA Human Spaceflight director Simonetta Di Pippo and Philippe Deloo, Head of Cupola/Nodes Project Office at ESA, tell more about the launch and about the importance of the Node-3 and Cupola on the ESA Webstreaming Network.