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Columbus (ISS module)
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<p><i>Columbus</i> is a science laboratory that is part of the <a href="/facts/International_Space_Station/VNPUBz9m">International Space Station</a> (ISS) and is the largest single contribution to the ISS made by the <a href="/facts/European_Space_Agency/L8YRNV0C">European Space Agency</a> (ESA). </p><p>Like the <i><a href="/facts/Harmony_(ISS_module)/RY1kewMY">Harmony</a></i> and <i><a href="/facts/Tranquility_(ISS_module)/BUrpTnUw">Tranquility</a></i> modules, the <i>Columbus</i> laboratory was constructed in <a href="/facts/Turin/PudIVEnr">Turin</a>, <a href="/facts/Italy/tUf0PDYF">Italy</a> by <a href="/facts/Thales_Alenia_Space/E7JMd8TL">Thales Alenia Space</a>. The functional equipment and software of the lab was designed by <a href="/facts/Airbus/PSLf3cM8">EADS</a> in <a href="/facts/Bremen/y56P3Pyk">Bremen</a>, <a href="/facts/Germany/paluuWBX">Germany</a>. It was also integrated in Bremen before being flown to the <a href="/facts/Kennedy_Space_Center/zmwszuPr">Kennedy Space Center</a> (KSC) in <a href="/facts/Florida/cF245A3Q">Florida</a> in an <a href="/facts/Airbus_Beluga/7DE59pAs">Airbus Beluga</a>. It was launched aboard <a href="/facts/Space_Shuttle/7BoyetEv">Space Shuttle</a> <a href="/facts/Space_Shuttle_Atlantis/3NQUThEB"><i>Atlantis</i></a> on 7 February 2008, on flight <a href="/facts/STS-122/WAbyhxjE">STS-122</a>. It is designed for ten years of operation. The module is controlled by the <a href="/facts/Columbus_Control_Centre/bx5TH8JF">Columbus Control Centre</a>, located at the <a href="/facts/German_Space_Operations_Center/7INgPwXD">German Space Operations Center</a>, part of the <a href="/facts/German_Aerospace_Center/nIeKtKqd">German Aerospace Center</a> in <a href="/facts/Oberpfaffenhofen/MImqPVUT">Oberpfaffenhofen</a> near <a href="/facts/Munich/Pr6zw2ev">Munich</a>, Germany. </p><p>The European Space Agency has spent <a href="/facts/Euro/NWG2nlCx">€</a>1.4 billion (about <a href="/facts/United_States_dollar/naEEDUhC">US$</a>2 billion) on building <i>Columbus</i>, including the experiments it carries and the ground control infrastructure necessary to operate them. </p>