Spacelab

Spacelab was a reusable laboratory developed by the European Space Agency (ESA) and used aboard NASA Space Shuttle missions from 1983 to 1998. It consisted of multiple components, including a pressurized module, an unpressurized pallet, and other related hardware configured to meet the needs of each specific mission.

The pressurized module provided a shirt-sleeve environment for astronauts to conduct experiments in microgravity across a wide range of scientific disciplines, including materials science, life sciences, astronomy, and atmospheric physics. It allowed scientists and astronauts to work directly with equipment and specimens in space, rather than relying solely on automated systems.

The unpressurized pallets were mounted in the Space Shuttle's cargo bay and were used to house instruments that needed to be directly exposed to the vacuum of space. These pallets often held telescopes, antennas, and other sensors.

Spacelab missions were typically dedicated to scientific research and provided valuable data and insights into the effects of spaceflight on living organisms, the behavior of materials in microgravity, and the nature of the universe. The program contributed significantly to the advancement of scientific knowledge and laid the groundwork for future space-based research activities, including the International Space Station.

The concept of Spacelab was intended to provide relatively affordable and reusable access to space for scientific experiments, compared to building dedicated single-use satellites. The experiments themselves were often proposed and managed by scientists from various international institutions. The Spacelab program ended with the decommissioning of the Space Shuttle fleet.