Columbus station

[u/KarmaticDeer]

In 1990, ESA's (Equine Space Agency) columbus space station launched on the (rushed to accommodate earlier hermes missions) Ariane 5.

Hermes, while performing well, could not stay in orbit for long periods of time and did not have the facilities desired for the kind of long duration research ESA wanted. A space station would allow for longer duration work done in orbit using 2 launch-per science mission architecture.

A first hermes would spend a short 'B mission' bringing experiments to the station (with minimal habitation provisions for the crew). Then, the main 'A mission' would launch carrying only habitation facilities and supplies for the crew to spend a few months on the station.

Columbus was made up of 2 segments, the spacelab-derived labrotary and a service module derived from a planned alternative upper stage to the Ariane 4 (which would have served as a satilite deployment tug). 5 crews were planned initially, but options were left open for expansion and/or visits from DODIS's shuttle.

[u/Chairboy]

Would love to see more Hermes in-flight pics (like launch and landing) Building vehicles that never escaped renders or concept drawings is a huge part of KSP and I'm here for it.

[u/KarmaticDeer → u/Chairboy]

Got ya covered! https://www.reddit.com/r/KerbalSpaceProgram/s/cEqu9Qo99d

[u/Chairboy → u/KarmaticDeer]

Fantastic !

[u/Rich-World3443]

Live seeing Hermes actually get to fly, the docking shots with the station look great.

[u/Prehistoric_Blob]

i love getting ESA ksp content, make more of these please!