European lab opens at space station

0 Comments | AFP, February, 2008

HOUSTON, Texas (AFP) — Astronauts at the International Space Station Tuesday opened up the new Columbus laboratory, a research facility that gives Europe a key foothold for the deeper exploration of the cosmos.

"There is no problem whatsoever. We have the basic power, the light, the computer system" working on Columbus, said Alan Thirkettle, a space station (ISS) official for the European Space Agency.

"We are looking to get really into the full activation so the crew can take off their masks."

US space agency NASA meanwhile said that Hans Schlegel, a German astronaut of the shuttle Atlantis who missed the current mission's first space walk due to illness, would take part in the second walk scheduled for Wednesday.

"I feel really great right now but...