On 19 October 2004, the Control Centre for the Columbus Laboratory is being inaugurated. Columbus is Europe's module for the ISS, due for launch in 2006. Its Control Centre, located near Munich (Germany), is operated by the German Aerospace Centre DLR, and is now ready to look after ESA's manned missions to the ISS. This includes all missions to ESA astronauts to the ISS, starting in April 2005.
This exchange includes footage of the Centre, and soundbites by ESA and DLR officials on its role and functions.
The programme includes an A-roll of ten minutes (split audio - English voiceover) with clean international sound.

Columbus Control Centre VNR
18 October 2004
Since 1998 Astronauts have been orbiting the Earth living and working aboard the International
Space Station.
Their operations have been supported by dozens of people in two control Centres located in Russia
and the United States.
Today, there is a third Mission Control Centre, which is located in Europe near Munich in
Germany.
It is known as the Columbus Control Centre and it has been inaugurated on the 19th of October
2004.
Klaus Wittmann, DLR: "We are here in the German space operations centre in Oberpfaffenhofen
from here we have controlled 40 space missions in the past 30 years."
The Columbus Control Centre will control and monitor the operations of the European Columbus
Laboratory once it becomes an integral part of the International Space Station.
The Columbus Laboratory is almost ready for launch. However it is now waiting for the US Space
Shuttle to return to flight before it can travel to the ISS, currently scheduled for late 2006.
The Cont