Cupola (ISS)

Cupola is a module of observation of the International space station (ISS), built by the European space agency (ESA). It will offer to the spationauts of the ISS a direct sight for the operations carried out with the robot-like arm and for the operations of stowing of the spaceships, while offering a point of view without equal for the observation of the Earth.

Conceived and built by the Italian firm Alenia, it measures approximately 2 meters in diameter and 1,5 meter height. Cupola is a kind of dome having 6 windows on the sides and a central window, each one of them being equipped with shutter with protection against the micrométéorites and the orbital remains. It integrates a thermal control system, buses of interface 1553, video interfaces and audio interfaces, as well as necessary connections to install one of the two stations of robot-like control of the Canadarm2, the mobile system of service.

After its launching envisaged in April 2010, Cupola must be installed on node 1 (Node 1) to be then transferred on node 3 (Node 3) from the space station.

The end of its phase of development was marked by a ceremony of the ESA in the center of Alenia Spazio to Turin the September 6th 2004.

Dimensions

Height: 1,5 m
maximum Diameter: 2,95 m
Mass (in orbit): 1,880 kg

External bonds

ESA Cupola specifications
ESA Carryforward butt the Cupola
ESA: Largest window for Space completed

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