Look out of the largest space window

William Atkins
Thursday, 18 February 2010 00:01

Science - Space

What is being called the largest space window, the seven windows of Cupola onboard the International Space Station were unveiled on Wednesday, February 17, 2010, when astronauts opened the windows' shutters on this newly installed space observation deck.



After a Tuesday spacewalk, the third and final one, by NASA astronauts Robert Behnken and Nicholas Patrick, the space shuttle STS-130 astronauts and the ISS Expedition 22 crewmembers were able to see an 'absolutely spectacular' view of Earth from the 80-centimeter (31-inch) diameter window, the top window on the Cupola (which is surrounded by the other six).

The European Space Agency (ESA)/Italian-built Cupola is an Earth-facing observation deck that contains seven windows that provide a 360-degree view of outer space.

The windows are called Windows on the World, Windows on the Universe, and the Largest Space Window. Whatever they are called, they provide spectacular views of Earth and outer space from the International Space Station.

The seven-windowed Cupola is positioned on the underside of the newly installed Tranquility module (Node 3).

Appropriate for the unique activities of the day, the space shuttle astronauts were awakened to the music of Jimmy Buffett, specifically his song 'Window On The World."

A picture of the Cupola, as it sits at the Kennedy Space Center before being send to space, is found on the following NASA webpage 'Windows on the Universe.'

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