Preparing Spacelab-1 at the Kennedy Space Center for its flight aboard Space Shuttle STS-9 in November - December 1983. ESA developed Spacelab as a manned scientific laboratory to fly on NASA's Space Shuttle. Ulf Merbold became the first ESA astronaut in space, as part of the Spacelab crew. [Image Date: 05-06-83] [83.09.017-006]