Detail View: NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Collection: Spacelab - Artist's Concept

Name of Image: 
Spacelab - Artist's Concept
Full Description: 
Spacelab was a versatile laboratory carried in the Space Shuttle's cargo bay for special research flights. Its various elements could be combined to accommodate the many types of scientific research that could best be performed in space. Spacelab consisted of an enclosed, pressurized laboratory module and open U-shaped pallets located at the rear of the laboratory module. The laboratory module contained utilities, computers, work benches, and instrument racks to conduct scientific experiments in astronomy, physics, chemistry, biology, medicine, and engineering. Equipment, such as telescopes, anternas, and sensors, was mounted on pallets for direct exposure to space. A 1-meter (3.3-ft.) diameter aluminum tunnel, resembling a z-shaped tube, connected the crew compartment (mid deck) to the module. The reusable Spacelab allowed scientists to bring experiment samples back to Earth for post-flight analysis. Spacelab was a cooperative venture of the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA. ESA was responsible for funding, developing, and building of Spacelab, while NASA was responsible for the launch and operational use of Spacelab. Spacelab missions were cooperative efforts between scientists and engineers from around the world. Teams from NASA centers, universities, private industry, government agencies and international space organizations designed the experiments. The Marshall Space Flight Center was NASA's lead center for monitoring the development of Spacelab and managing the program.
Date of Image: 
1981-01-01
Category: 
Spacelab
term: 
Spacelab
facet_what: 
Earth
facet_where: 
Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC)
Reference Number: 
MSFC-75-SA-4105-2C
MIX #: 
8109343
NIX #: 
MSFC-8109343
MSFC Negative Number: 
8109343
UID: 
SPD-MARSH-8109343
original url: 
http://mix.msfc.nasa.gov/abstracts.php?p=3146