OTHER EUROPEAN I.S.S. CONTRIBUTIONS
Notes:
In addition to its other contributions, the ESA Council has also approved a "complementary" ISS Phase 2 program in July 1994 for early development of laboratory & computer support equipment that will be used on the US and Russian ISS segments, before Columbus is launched. Important projects include a computer system and European Remote Arm for the Russian Service Module. When ESA decided not to launch the Columbus Orbiting Facility on its Ariane-5 rocket, it had to reimburse the Americans for using the Space Shuttle. As part of a barter deal signed in March 1997, ESA will now contribute experimental racks and freezer units for the US laboratory.
ESA will also contribute two Node modules worth $115 million free of charge, in return for receiving a “free” Space Shuttle flight from the Americans to launch the Columbus Orbiting Facility (COF). The nodes are built by Alenia Spazio and based on the same basic pressurized module as the COF and Multi-Purpose Logistics Modules. One of the nodes will carry the International Space Station's environmental control & life-support system and crew quarters since the US habitation module has been postponed due to cost overruns.
