Columbus Laboratory: interior view

An interior view of the Columbus Laboratory provides a glimpse into the main characteristics of its design with regard to man-machine interactions. All laboratory facilities have been designed for easy access and operation. Laptop computers and other user-friendly interfaces will serve as a link between the crew and the experiments being carried out. However, the main feature of the research facilities is the degree of telescience. Principal investigators on the ground will be able to monitor and manipulate their experiments in near-real time conditions. This will not only provide a direct link between the researcher and his or her experiment, but it will also alleviate the demand on crew time and will significantly reduce operation costs. ESA has incorporated advanced features in the facility design (such as advanced diagnostics) in order to minimise the cost of experiment development. This approach is geared toward increasing the range of scientific opportunities available to the scientific community. Status as of July 1997. [Image Date: 1997/07] [97.07.007-008]