Multinational station in space

The installation of the European space lab in space will start a new concept of multination in space. The installation of European space lab Columbus in the space station will have space station processing facilities and it will be global.

The space shuttle Atlantis will fix the Columbus lab to the international Space Station that is getting funded by countries all over the world. About 14 countries are participating in the mission funding in which the NASA crew of astronauts will be accompanies by a European astronaut to get involved in the diverse lab installation program.

The mission is expected to complete in 11 days and the shuttle will return back before Christmas. Currently the space station has nine rooms that is owned by either Russia or US. In 2008 Japan will add its lab to the space station.