KSC-06pd0966

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Inside the Space Station Processing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, the Columbus module waits to be lifted out of its transportation canister. An overhead crane is being lowered toward the module, which is the European Space Agency's research laboratory for the International Space Station. The module will be moved to a work stand and prepared for delivery to the space station on a future space shuttle mission. Columbus will expand the research facilities of the station and provide researchers with the ability to conduct numerous experiments in the area of life, physical and materials sciences. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann