EU Space Lab Lift-Off
February 8, 2008
SPACE Shuttle Atlantis blasted safely into orbit yesterday ready to deliver Europe’s pounds 1.37billion science lab to the International Space Station.
The Florida launch, delayed for two months with fuel gauge problems, finally saw the European Space Agency’s lab Colombus go into orbit after 23 years of planning.
Colombus, with room for three, will be installed on Sunday ready for experiments such as crop breeding and the effects of long duration space flight.
Alan Thirkettle, ESA space program chief, said: “We’re as excited as heck.”
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