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 ISS crew members with a direct view of robotic operations and docked spacecraft, as well as an observation point for watching the Earth. Its name derives from an architectural feature, the cupola, which it vaguely resembles.

Designed and built by the Italian contractor Alenia, it is approximately 2 metres in diameter and 1.5 metres 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. The Cupola is expected to be launched aboard STS-132 around April 2010. It will initially be installed on the Unity Module 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 five external payloads to the ISS.

[edit] Specifications

• Overall height: 1.5 m
• Maximum diameter: 2.95 m
• Mass: 1,880 kg

[edit] External links

• ESA Cupola specifications
• ESA Report about the Cupola
• ESA: Largest window for Space completed

v • d • e Components of the International Space Station Major components in orbit Zarya (Functional Cargo Block) · Unity (Node 1) · Zvezda (Service Module) · Destiny (Laboratory) · Quest (Airlock) · Pirs (Airlock / Docking Module) · Harmony (Node 2)  · Columbus (Laboratory) · Kibō (PM, ELM-PS) Other subsystems in orbit Integrated Truss Structure (ITS) · Canadarm2 (MSS) · Dextre (SPDM) · Kibō Remote Manipulator System · External Stowage Platforms (ESPs) · Pressurized Mating Adapters (PMAs) Launched periodically Multi-Purpose Logistics Modules (MPLMs) Scheduled for Shuttle Kibō (EF, ELM-ES) · Node 3 · Cupola · Mini-Research Module 1 · ExPRESS Logistics Carriers (ELCs) Scheduled for Proton Multipurpose Laboratory Module (MLM) · European Robotic Arm (ERA) Scheduled for Soyuz Mini-Research Module 2 Canceled or unused Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer · Centrifuge Accommodations Module (CAM) · Interim Control Module (ICM) · Universal Docking Module (UDM) · Docking and Stowage Module (DSM) · Habitation Module · Crew Return Vehicle (CRV/ACRV) · Propulsion Module · Science Power Platform (SPP) · Russian Research Module (RM) Support vehicles Space Shuttle · Soyuz · Progress · Automated Transfer Vehicle · H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV) · Dragon · Orion ISS assembly (sequence)