Astrolab mission control

A report from the Columbus Control Centre in Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany, where a team of engineers and managers are providing support to the Astrolab Mission - Europe's first long-duration mission to the International Space Station (ISS). During his six-month stay on the ISS, ESA astronaut Thomas Reiter is carrying out an intensive scientific programme including experiments in human physiology, biology and physics. Reiter receives support for these activities from the Columbus Control Centre, from where a team - which includes ESA astronaut Reinhold Ewald - communicates with him daily.ESApod video programme