KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - At the Shuttle Landing Facility, the European Space Agency's research laboratory, designated Columbus, slides out onto an Airbus Transport International platform that will lower it to the ground. The module will then be lifted onto a flat bed truck and transported to the Space Station Processing Facility. There the module will be prepared for delivery to the International Space Station on a future space shuttle mission. Columbus will expand the research facilities of the station and provide researchers with the ability to conduct numerous experiments in the area of life, physical and materials sciences. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - At the Shuttle Landing Facility, an Airbus Transport International platform is moved in front of the nose of the Beluga airbus in order to offload the European Space Agency's research laboratory, designated Columbus. After being unloaded, the module will be transported to the Space Station Processing Facility. There the module will be prepared for delivery to the International Space Station on a future space shuttle mission. Columbus will expand the research facilities of the station and provide researchers with the ability to conduct numerous experiments in the area of life, physical and materials sciences. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - A Beluga aircraft taxis on the runway at the Shuttle Landing Facility on NASA's Kennedy Space Center. The Beluga carries the European Space Agency's research laboratory, designated Columbus, flown to Kennedy from its manufacturer in Germany. The module will be prepared for delivery to the International Space Station on a future space shuttle mission. Columbus will expand the research facilities of the station and provide researchers with the ability to conduct numerous experiments in the area of life, physical and materials sciences. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - At the Shuttle Landing Facility, the European Space Agency's research laboratory, designated Columbus, slides out onto an Airbus Transport International platform. The module will be lifted onto a flat bed truck and transported to the Space Station Processing Facility. There the module will be prepared for delivery to the International Space Station on a future space shuttle mission. Columbus will expand the research facilities of the station and provide researchers with the ability to conduct numerous experiments in the area of life, physical and materials sciences. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - At the Shuttle Landing Facility, the European Space Agency's research laboratory, designated Columbus, has been offloaded onto an Airbus Transport International platform. The module will be lifted onto a flat bed truck and transported to the Space Station Processing Facility. There the module will be prepared for delivery to the International Space Station on a future space shuttle mission. Columbus will expand the research facilities of the station and provide researchers with the ability to conduct numerous experiments in the area of life, physical and materials sciences. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - A Beluga aircraft parks near the mate/demate device at the Shuttle Landing Facility on NASA's Kennedy Space Center. The Beluga carries the European Space Agency's research laboratory, designated Columbus, flown to Kennedy from its manufacturer in Germany. The module will be prepared for delivery to the International Space Station on a future space shuttle mission. Columbus will expand the research facilities of the station and provide researchers with the ability to conduct numerous experiments in the area of life, physical and materials sciences. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - At the Shuttle Landing Facility, the European Space Agency's research laboratory, designated Columbus, is being offloaded onto an Airbus Transport International platform. The module will be lifted onto a flat bed truck and transported to the Space Station Processing Facility. There the module will be prepared for delivery to the International Space Station on a future space shuttle mission. Columbus will expand the research facilities of the station and provide researchers with the ability to conduct numerous experiments in the area of life, physical and materials sciences. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - A Beluga aircraft arrives at the Shuttle Landing Facility on NASA's Kennedy Space Center. The Beluga carries the European Space Agency's research laboratory, designated Columbus, flown to Kennedy from its manufacturer in Germany. The module will be prepared for delivery to the International Space Station on a future space shuttle mission. Columbus will expand the research facilities of the station and provide researchers with the ability to conduct numerous experiments in the area of life, physical and materials sciences. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - At the Shuttle Landing Facility, a crane lowers Columbus, the European Space Agency's research laboratory, toward a flat bed truck. The truck will transport the module to the Space Station Processing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. The module arrived on a Beluga Airbus May 30 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center from the manufacturer in Germany. In the SSPF, the module will be prepared for delivery to the International Space Station on a future space shuttle mission. Columbus will expand the research facilities of the station and provide researchers with the ability to conduct numerous experiments in the area of life, physical and materials sciences. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - At the Shuttle Landing Facility, a crane lifts Columbus, the European Space Agency's research laboratory, off an Airbus Transport International platform to place it onto a flat bed truck. The module will be transported to the Space Station Processing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. The module arrived on a Beluga Airbus May 30 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center from the manufacturer in Germany. In the SSPF, the module will be prepared for delivery to the International Space Station on a future space shuttle mission. Columbus will expand the research facilities of the station and provide researchers with the ability to conduct numerous experiments in the area of life, physical and materials sciences. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - At the Shuttle Landing Facility, a crane settles Columbus, the European Space Agency's research laboratory, onto a flat bed truck. The truck will transport the module to the Space Station Processing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. The module arrived on a Beluga Airbus May 30 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center from the manufacturer in Germany. In the SSPF, the module will be prepared for delivery to the International Space Station on a future space shuttle mission. Columbus will expand the research facilities of the station and provide researchers with the ability to conduct numerous experiments in the area of life, physical and materials sciences. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - At the Shuttle Landing Facility, a crane lifts Columbus, the European Space Agency's research laboratory, off an Airbus Transport International platform toward a flat bed truck. The truck will transport the module to the Space Station Processing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. The module arrived on a Beluga Airbus May 30 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center from the manufacturer in Germany. In the SSPF, the module will be prepared for delivery to the International Space Station on a future space shuttle mission. Columbus will expand the research facilities of the station and provide researchers with the ability to conduct numerous experiments in the area of life, physical and materials sciences. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - At the Shuttle Landing Facility, the European Space Agency's research laboratory, designated Columbus, has been offloaded onto an Airbus Transport International platform. The module will be lifted off the platform onto a flat bed truck and transported to the Space Station Processing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. The module arrived on a Beluga Airbus May 30 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center from the manufacturer in Germany. In the SSPF, the module will be prepared for delivery to the International Space Station on a future space shuttle mission. Columbus will expand the research facilities of the station and provide researchers with the ability to conduct numerous experiments in the area of life, physical and materials sciences. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann