Spacelab Program

Spacelab was the European-NASA program that developed and flew reusable laboratories and research pallets in the Space Shuttle's cargo bay. Approved in 1973, it combined a pressurized laboratory, external experiment pallets, and instrument-pointing equipment. Europe supplied the first laboratory under a cooperation agreement, and NASA acquired a second set. Beginning with Spacelab-1 on STS-9 in 1983, the program enabled multidisciplinary research and more specialized science flights, including German-sponsored missions. Its 22 missions through 1998 accumulated about 244 days in orbit and developed international research and operational experience later applied to the International Space Station.