View source for Cupola (ISS module)

{{Short description|Observation module of the International Space Station}}
{{About|the International Space Station module|other uses|Cupola (disambiguation)}}
{{italic title}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2025}}
{{Infobox space station module
| module               = ''Cupola''
| module_image         = Iss065e241659.jpg
| module_image_caption = Exterior of ''Cupola'' with shutters open
| COSPAR_ID            = {{COSPAR|2010-004B}}<ref name="Display">{{cite web|url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=2010-004A|title=Display: Tranquility 2010-004A|publisher=NASA|date=14 May 2020 |access-date=31 January 2021}} {{PD-notice}}</ref>
| launch               = 8 February 2010, 09:14:08&nbsp;[[Coordinated Universal Time|UTC]]
| launch_vehicle       = {{OV|Endeavour}}
| berthed              = 15 February 2010
| reentry              =
| mass                 = 1,880&nbsp;kg (4,145&nbsp;lb)
| height               = 1.5&nbsp;m (4.9&nbsp;ft)
| diameter             = 2.95&nbsp;m (9.68&nbsp;ft)
}}

The '''''Cupola''''' is an [[ESA]]-built observatory module of the [[International Space Station]] (ISS). Its name derives from the Italian word ''{{lang|it|cupola}}'', which means "[[dome]]".  Its seven windows are used to conduct experiments, dockings and observations of Earth. It was launched aboard [[Space Shuttle Endeavour|Space Shuttle ''Endeavour'']]'s mission [[STS-130]] on 8 February 2010, and attached to the [[Tranquility (ISS module)|''Tranquility'' (Node 3)]] module. With the ''Cupola'' attached, ISS assembly reached 85 percent completion. The ''Cupola''{{'s}} central window has a diameter of {{convert|80|cm|abbr=on}}.<ref name="Cupola: a window over the Earth ">{{cite web|url=http://www.thalesaleniaspace-issmodules.com/cupola|title=Thales Alenia Space and ISS modules – Cupola: a window over the Earth|date=26 July 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100726075315/http://www.thalesaleniaspace-issmodules.com/cupola|archive-date=26 July 2010}}</ref>

== Overview ==
[[File:ISS-42 Interior view from the International Space Station's Cupola module.jpg|thumb|A laptop with the ISS orbital location in the ''Cupola'' during sunset]]

The ''Cupola'' provides an observation and work area for the ISS crew giving visibility to support the control of the space station [[Canadarm2|remote manipulator system]] and general external viewing of [[Earth]], celestial objects and visiting vehicles. The Cupola project was started by NASA and [[Boeing]], but canceled due to budget cuts.  A barter agreement between NASA and the [[ESA]] resulted in the ''Cupola''{{'}}s development being resumed in 1998 by ESA.{{r|ESA-1}}

The ''Cupola'' is important to astronauts aboard the ISS,<ref name=ESA-1>{{cite web|url=http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/International_Space_Station/Largest_window_for_space_completed|title=Largest window for space completed|last=esa|website=European Space Agency}}</ref> who enjoy using the module to view and photograph the Earth. ''Cupola'' replaced the Russian ''[[Zvezda (ISS module)|Zvezda]]'' for such photographs.<ref name="as20101118">{{Cite magazine |date=18 November 2010 |title=Koichi Wakata: Different Flavors |url=https://www.airspacemag.com/multimedia/in-the-age-of-spaceplanes-72344760/?page=9 |magazine=Air & Space |language=en}}</ref> Previously they looked out of small [[porthole]]s, or at best the {{convert|20|in|cm|sigfig=1|adj=on}} window in the US [[Destiny (ISS module)|''Destiny'' laboratory]]. The ''Cupola'' is berthed onto the Earth-facing port of the ''[[Tranquility (ISS module)|Tranquility]]'' module. Because of its shape and multi window configuration the ''Cupola'' has been compared to the cockpit window of the [[Millennium Falcon]].<ref name=YT-1300>{{cite web |url=http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/02/photogalleries/100218-international-space-station-cupola-iss-obama-nasa-pictures/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100220160033/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/02/photogalleries/100218-international-space-station-cupola-iss-obama-nasa-pictures/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 February 2010 |title=First Photos: Space Station's Observation Deck Unveiled |publisher=NationalGeographic.com |date=18 February 2010 |access-date=26 November 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/stationpayloads/cupola.html|title = NASA – Cupola, the Space Station's Room with a View}}</ref>

== Design and construction ==
[[File:ISS-26 Cupola with robotic workstation.jpg|thumb|Fish-eye lens view of the interior of ''Cupola'' with shutters closed]]
[[File:ISS-26 Paolo Nespoli and Cady Coleman relocate the HTV-2.jpg|thumb|Berthing operations within ''Cupola'']]

The International Space Station ''Cupola'' was first conceived in 1987 by Space Station Man-Systems Architectural Control Manager Gary Kitmacher as a workstation for operating the station's [[Mobile Servicing System|Canadarm2 robotic arm]], maneuvering vehicles outside the station, and observing and supporting [[spacewalk]]s. He likened the use as similar to that of the [[Space Shuttle orbiter|Shuttle Orbiter]] Aft Flight Deck. There were to have been two Cupolas, one on either end of the racetrack shape formed by the station modules and nodes.  It was initially named the "windowed workstation", to distinguish it from other computer-based workstations inside of the station and from which the crew could operate the station's systems.

Once the idea was initially accepted, a number of people went to work. Human factors specialist Frances Mount began to develop the rationale and operational scenarios for the ''Cupola'', and got considerable support from Chief Astronaut [[John Young (astronaut)|John Young]] and Shuttle Commander [[Gordon Fullerton]]. Charles Wheelwright, who had defined the specifications for every window on every prior United States crewed spacecraft, began to define the design specifications of the ''Cupola'' windows. Laurie Weaver, who had just started with NASA as a student intern, began to work on a series of different configurations for the ''Cupola''. She started with Kitmacher's idea, based on the Shuttle Aft Flight Deck, in this case two Aft Flight Decks mounted back to back, placed atop a short cylinder. An inexpensive mock-up made of [[Polyvinyl chloride|PVC]] tubes was built and tested underwater, where critical dimensions could be measured to ensure that two crew members in zero-g would have adequate access. Then she built a series of small cardboard models, looking at a variety of different alternative shapes.  The different configurations and their positive and negative attributes were presented at a series of Crew Station Reviews over the next year in which participants rated each.  The ''Cupola'' that evolved was octagonal in shape, with eight similar windows around the periphery, four quadrant windows overhead, and mounted on a cylinder. The module was designed to fully contain at least two crewmembers "floating" side by side in [[zero-g]] [[neutral body posture]]. About this time, Kitmacher and designer Jay Cory applied the term ''Cupola'' for the first time. Kitmacher wrote the requirements and the name into the Man-Systems Architectural Control Document and into the [[Request for proposal|requests for proposals]] for Work Package 1 at MSFC and Work Package 2 at [[Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center|JSC]].  Later, Kitmacher went on to lead the Man-Systems group, leading the first lunar outpost and moonbase studies and the ''Cupola'' reappeared on several of his rover and module designs.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:RoverB.jpg|title=English: Heavy, pressurized lunar rover intended to enable up to four crew to rove for two weeks on the Moon's surface. A crew airlock permits crew to exit and enter the rover and may double as a docking adapter to the Moon base. A smaller sample lock permits retrieval of lunar samples using remote manipulators mounted on the rover front. A cupola on top, similar to the cupola on the International Space Station, is a secondary driving station and permits views of the lunar terrain 360 degrees around the horizon and to much greater distances than the lower driving station.|first=Kitmacher, Cicorra|last=artist|date=18 April 1990|via=Wikimedia Commons}}</ref>

Because of confusion between the responsibilities of the two contracts, both [[Boeing]], which won Work Package 1, and [[McDonnell Douglas]], which won Work Package 2, bid to build the ''Cupola''.  The McDonnell Douglas design was basically the same as NASA's, but Boeing's was smaller&nbsp;— a hexagon, with a single large circular overhead window, and a much shorter cylinder. The Boeing design had been considered but previously discarded, because it was unable to accommodate two crew members completely, and would instead require the crew to dangle their legs and bodies in the Node to which the ''Cupola'' would be attached.  This design was the one ultimately built.

=== Manufacturing ===
Components of the ''Cupola'' were initially fabricated in California, and the windows in New York in the late 1980s, but as budgets were cut, the ''Cupola'' was a favorite target. Several times it was fought back into the program only to be cut again as not technically required. More than once the responsibilities for fabrication were bartered to one international partner and then another in exchange for Shuttle launch services and resources that the United States would provide on board the station in orbit. The ''Cupola'' made the rounds to Brazil and then finally wound up with ESA and the Italians in 1998, who completed it in 2003. Even then, the launch of the ''Cupola'' was repeatedly delayed until it finally made it into orbit in February 2010. The delivery method also changed from the ''Cupola'' being mounted on a SpaceLab pallet accompanying ''Kibo'''s external facility to being mounted on the European built ''Tranquility'' module as it was delivered.

The original barter agreement had ESA building two cupola modules for the ISS. This was later amended to just one.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/International_Space_Station/ESA_s_International_Space_Station_barter_agreements|title=ESA's International Space Station barter agreements|last=esa|website=European Space Agency}}</ref> The ESA-built ''Tranquility'' module and the ''Cupola'' together cost nearly $409 m.<ref name=SN-Endevour>{{cite web|url=https://spacenews.com/endeavour-delivers-tranquility-and-cupola-international-space-station/|title=Endeavour Delivers Tranquility and Cupola to International Space Station|date=15 February 2010|website=SpaceNews.com}}</ref>

With final design and assembly by the Italian contractor Alenia Spazio (now merged into [[Thales Alenia Space]]), it is nearly 3<!--2.955--> metres in diameter and 1.5 metres tall. It has six side windows and a top window, all of which are equipped with shutters to protect them from damage by [[micrometeoroid]]s and [[orbital debris]]. It features a thermal control system, audio, video and [[MIL-STD-1553]] bus interfaces, as well as the connections needed for installing one of the two identical workstations that control the robotic manipulator [[Mobile Servicing System|Canadarm2]].<ref name="ESA Cupola">{{cite web|url=http://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/International_Space_Station/Cupola |title=Cupola |work=European Space Agency |access-date=28 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200106021520/http://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/International_Space_Station/Cupola |archive-date=6 January 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Cupola-Prototyp in Hattingen.jpg|thumb|alt=Prototype of the Cupola framework, exhibited in the Henrichshütte Museum, Hattingen|Prototype of the Cupola framework, exhibited in the Henrichshütte Museum, Hattingen]]
The ''Cupola''{{'}}s outer framework was built by the [[Vereinigte Schmiedewerke]] in [[Hattingen]], Germany. It is made from forged [[aluminum]], with an inner skeleton made from [[steel]] plates and bars welded together; which add strength against the pressure. Several companies including Alcoa and Tata Steel Europe were contracted for the manufacturing.<ref>{{cite book |author=NASA |title=Inside the International Space Station, a Comprehensive Review of ISS systems |date=7 May 2017 |publisher=NASA|isbn=978-1-5212-4191-2 }}</ref> A prototype is today exhibited in the [[Henrichshütte]], [[LWL-Museen für Industriekultur]].

Each window is composed of 4 separate layers ('panes'): An outer debris pane, two 25&nbsp;mm pressure panes, and an inner scratch pane. Each pressure pane and debris pane is made from fused silica glass.<ref name=WITC>{{cite web|url=http://www.spaceflight.esa.int/documents/cupola/cupola-what.pdf |title=What is the Cupola? |date=August 2004 |website=spaceflight.esa.int |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070315232107/http://www.spaceflight.esa.int/documents/cupola/cupola-what.pdf |archive-date=15 March 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The panes can be replaced in-orbit after an external pressure cover has been fitted.<ref name=WITC />

The window shutters are manually controlled. Each window has a knob with a direct mechanical linkage to the outside shutter assembly. [[O-ring]]s are used to prevent air leakage.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSzuiqVjJg4 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/KSzuiqVjJg4 |archive-date=21 December 2021 |url-status=live|title=7 HOLES in the Space Station – Smarter Every Day 135|last=SmarterEveryDay|date=8 May 2015|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

== Installation ==
''Cupola'' was launched aboard [[Space Shuttle Endeavour|Space Shuttle ''Endeavour'']] on mission [[STS-130]], on 8 February 2010. It was berthed to the forward port of the ''[[Tranquility (ISS module)|Tranquility]]'' module for launch, and was later transferred to the [[nadir]]-facing port of ''Tranquility'' by the Canadarm2, once ''Tranquility'' had been berthed to the [[Unity Module|''Unity'' Module]] of the ISS. The installation of the ''Cupola'', along with ''Tranquility'', marked one of the last main components to be added to the International Space Station.

== Specifications ==
ESA specifications:<ref name="ESA Cupola" />
* '''Overall height''': {{cvt|1.5|m|ft|sigfig=2}}
* '''Maximum [[diameter]]''': {{cvt|2.95|m|ft|sigfig=3}}
* '''Launch mass''': {{cvt|1805|kg|lbs|sigfig=4}}
* '''On [[Orbit]] mass''': {{cvt|1880|kg|lbs|sigfig=4}}
* '''Dome construction''': Forged [[2219 aluminium alloy|Al 2219-T851]] with steel reinforcement
* '''Skirt construction''': Al 2219-T851
* '''Windows''': Fused [[silica]] and [[borosilicate]] glass
* '''Shutters''': DuPont [[Kevlar]]/[[3M]] Nextel sheets
* '''Electrical power''': Node 120 V Interface
* '''Top window''': {{cvt|80|cm|in|sigfig=2}} diameter
* '''Thermal control''': goldised [[Kapton]] multi-layer insulation blanket

== Gallery ==
<gallery class="center">
File:Tracy Caldwell Dyson in Cupola ISS.jpg|[[Tracy Caldwell Dyson]] in the ''Cupola'' module of the ISS observing Earth below
File:Cupola above the darkened Earth.jpg|''Cupola'' over the darkened Earth, in orbit in the vicinity of [[Brisbane]], Australia
File:Cupola being aligned with the Tranquility.jpg|''Cupola'' being aligned with the ''Tranquility'' module at the [[Space Station Processing Facility]]
File:STS-130 ISS approach closeup of Tranquility and Cupola.jpg|STS-130 ISS approach closeup of ''Tranquility'' and ''Cupola''
File:ISS-27 Dmitri Kondratyev and Paolo Nespoli photograph the Earth through the Cupola.jpg|View of the space station from ''Cupola''
File:ISS cupola with Stephanie Wilson.jpg|[[Stephanie Wilson]] relaxing to music in the ''Cupola'' during STS-131, April 2010
File:ISS-46 Zinnia flower in the Cupola (2).jpg|A [[Zinnia]] flower grown aboard the ISS in bloom in the ''Cupola'', 17 January 2016
File:ISS-50 Thomas Pesquet and Shane Kimbrough in the Cupola (1).jpg|[[Robert S. Kimbrough|Kimbrough]] and [[Thomas Pesquet|Pesquet]] in the ''Cupola'' during [[Expedition 50]], December 2016
File:Cupola ISS open shutters middle crop.jpg|The [[Sahara]] viewed through the ''Cupola'' with its shutters open
</gallery>

== See also ==
{{Portal|Spaceflight}}
{{colbegin}}
* [[Spacecraft]]
* [[Space Station]]
* [[Scientific research on the ISS]]
{{colend}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}
* http://www.nasa.gov/missions/shuttle/f_cupola.html {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100112204951/http://www.nasa.gov/missions/shuttle/f_cupola.html |date=12 January 2010 }}
* [http://www.esa.int/esaHS/SEMDK0808BE_iss_2.html ESA transfer ownership of ''Cupola'' to NASA]

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Cupola (ISS module)}}
* [http://www.esa.int/esaHS/ESA65K0VMOC_iss_0.html ESA ''Cupola'' specifications]
* [http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMZH40XDYD_index_0.html ESA Report about the ''Cupola'']
* [http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMHAL0XDYD_Life_0.html ESA: Largest window for Space completed]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100726075315/http://www.thalesaleniaspace-issmodules.com/cupola Thales Alenia Space page for ''Cupola'' (archived)]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U54RMrBK9vU Video Tour]

{{ISS modules}}
{{European Space Agency}}
{{Orbital launches in 2010}}

{{Use American English|date=January 2014}}

[[Category:Components of the International Space Station]]
[[Category:European Space Agency]]
[[Category:Spacecraft launched in 2010]]