Page 53 - Italy In Space
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COLUMBUS
February 7, 2008. Launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis mission STS-122 delivering to the ISS the
European Laboratory Columbus, whose development crossed more than a quarter of a century.
Commemorative cover hand cancelled at the KSC on the day of launch.
February 20, 2008. Shuttle STS-122 returns, leaving Columbus connected with ISS Node-2 Harmony,
also produced in Italy in the same Alenia plant. Columbus is now “anchored at a new haven”,
integrated in the ISS and offers European scientists the opportunity to do research in space as
Americans, Russians and Japanese do. Commemorative cover manually cancelled at Houston, where the
Mission Control Center supports the activities in the Laboratory.
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