The ESA contributions to the International Space Station

Europe has been involved in the development of the International Space Station (ISS) programme since 1984 when the United Stated of America invited other nations to participate in building a permanently manned space station. Europe’s participation is coordinated through the European Space Agency (ESA), and ten of its 15 Member States have joined the ISS programme: Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Spain and Switzerland.

An agreement between all the partners involved has been developed. It includes all the necessary details needed to build and run the Space Station. For example, an exact set of standards is needed to ensure that the parts built all over the world fit together perfectly when assembled in orbit, 400 km above the Earth.

Minus Eighty degrees Laboratory Freezer for the ISS (MELFI)

Europe is exclusively responsible for some key elements of the ISS, for instance the European Columbus laboratory and the Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV). Other main European contributions are:

In addition to these key elements, European scientists and engineers also provide other equipment to be used in the Space Station. One example is the Microgravity Science Glovebox which allows experiments to be carried out in an absolutely clean (sterile) environment. This glovebox was launched to the ISS in 2002 and is placed inside the American Destiny laboratory. Another example is the “freezer” MELFI, which will provide up to 80 kg cooling storage capability for experiment samples. MELFI stand for “Minus Eighty degrees Laboratory Freezer for the ISS”.