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{{short description|Temporary, reusable laboratory aboard the Space Shuttle}}
{{About|the Space Shuttle laboratory|the US space station of the 1970s|Skylab|the commercial company which also made space shuttle laboratories and logistic modules|Spacehab|the international competition|YouTube Space Lab}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}}
[[File:Spacelab - Artist's Concept.jpg|thumb|upright=1.0|right|Spacelab art, with lab interior cutaway, 1981]]
[[File:Wubbo-sl1.jpg|thumb|upright=1.0|right|[[Wubbo Ockels]] in the lab, 1985]]
[[File:Crystal in VCGS furnace.jpg|thumb|upright=1.0|right|[[Mercuric iodide]] crystals grown on [[STS-51-B|Spacelab 3]]]]

'''Spacelab''' was a reusable laboratory developed by [[European Space Agency]] (ESA) and used on certain spaceflights flown by the [[Space Shuttle]]. The laboratory comprised multiple components, including a pressurized module, an unpressurized carrier, and other related hardware housed in the Shuttle's cargo bay. The components were arranged in various configurations to meet the needs of each spaceflight.

Spacelab components flew on a total of about 32 Shuttle missions, depending on how such hardware and missions are tabulated. Spacelab allowed scientists to perform experiments in [[micro-g environment |microgravity]] in [[geocentric orbit]]. There was a variety of Spacelab-associated hardware, so a distinction can be made between the major Spacelab program missions with European scientists running missions in the Spacelab habitable module, missions running other Spacelab hardware experiments, and other [[Space Transportation System]] (STS) missions that used some component of Spacelab hardware. There is some variation in counts of Spacelab missions, in part because there were different types of Spacelab missions with a large range in the amount of Spacelab hardware flown and the nature of each mission. There were at least 22 major Spacelab missions between 1983 and 1998, and Spacelab hardware was used on a number of other missions, with some of the Spacelab pallets being flown as late as 2008.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/Space_Shuttle/Spacelab |title=Spacelab |publisher=ESA}}</ref>

==Background and history==
In August 1973, [[NASA]] and [[European Space Research Organisation]] (ESRO), now European Space Agency or ESA, signed a [[memorandum of understanding]] (MOU) to build a science laboratory for use on Space Shuttle flights.<ref>Lord 1987, pp. 24–28</ref> Construction of Spacelab was started in 1974 by [[Entwicklungsring Nord]] (ERNO), a subsidiary of [[VFW-Fokker|VFW-Fokker GmbH]], after merger with [[Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm]] (MBB) named MBB/ERNO, and merged into [[Astrium|EADS SPACE Transportation]] in 2003. The first lab module, ''LM1'', was donated to NASA in exchange for flight opportunities for European astronauts. A second module, ''LM2'', was bought by NASA for its own use from ERNO.<ref>[https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/files/1a.pdf Space Transportation System – HAER No. TX-116 – p. 46. Quote: "... Later, NASA purchased LM2, the second lab"]</ref>

[[File:Spacelab 2 mission.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.0|Artist's impression of the Spacelab 2 mission, showing some of the various experiments in the payload bay]]
Construction on the Spacelab modules began in 1974 by what was then the company ERNO-VFW-Fokker.<ref>[https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/files/1a.pdf Space Transportation System – HAER No. TX-116 – p. 46]</ref>

{{Blockquote|Spacelab is important to all of us for at least four good reasons. It expanded the Shuttle's ability to conduct science on-orbit manyfold. It provided a marvelous opportunity and example of a large international joint venture involving government, industry, and science with our European allies. The European effort provided the free world with a really versatile laboratory system several years before it would have been possible if the [[United States]] had had to fund it on its own. And finally, it provided Europe with the systems development and management experience they needed to move into the exclusive manned space flight arena.|NASA Administrator, ''Spacelab: An International Success Story''<ref>[https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19880009991.pdf ''Spacelab: An International Success Story'' Foreword by NASA Administrator James C. Fletcher] {{Source-attribution}}</ref>}}

[[File:STS-61-A compartment trainer.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.0|European astronauts prepare for their Spacelab mission, 1984.]]
In the early 1970s NASA shifted its focus from the Lunar missions to the Space Shuttle, and also space research.<ref name=Portree>{{cite web |url=https://spaceflighthistory.blogspot.com/2017/03/nasa-seeks-to-pep-up-shuttlespacelab.html |title=Spaceflight History: NASA Johnson's Plan to PEP Up Shuttle/Spacelab (1981) |last=Portree |first=David S.F. |date=2017 |website=Spaceflight History}} {{Source-attribution}}</ref> The [[Administrator of NASA]] at the time moved the focus from a new space station to a space laboratory for the planned Space Shuttle.<ref name=Portree/> This would allow technologies for future space stations to be researched and harness the capabilities of the Space Shuttle for research.<ref name=Portree/>

Spacelab was produced by European Space Research Organisation (ESRO), a consortium of ten European countries including:<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.space.com/23796-spacelab-space-shuttle-30-years-anniversary.html |title=Spacelab: Space Shuttle Flew Europe's First Space Module 30 Years Ago |date=2 December 2013 |publisher=Space.com}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Austria}} [[Austria]]
* {{flagicon|Belgium}} [[Belgium]]
* {{flagicon|Denmark}} [[Denmark]]
* {{flagicon|France}} [[France]]
* {{flagicon|Germany}} [[West Germany]]/[[Germany]]
* {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Italy]]
* {{flagicon|Netherlands}} [[Netherlands]]
* {{flagicon|Spain}} [[Spain]]
* {{flagicon|Switzerland}} [[Switzerland]]
* {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[United Kingdom]]

==Components==
[[File:STS-42 view of payload bay.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.0|STS-42 with Spacelab hardware in the orbiter bay overlooking Earth]]

In addition to the laboratory module, the complete set also included five external pallets for experiments in vacuum built by [[British Aerospace]] (BAe) and a pressurized "Igloo" containing the subsystems needed for the pallet-only flight configuration operation. Eight flight configurations were qualified, though more could be assembled if needed.

The system had some unique features including an intended two-week turn-around time (for the original Space Shuttle launch turn-around time) and the roll-on-roll-off for loading in aircraft (Earth-transportation).<ref name="spacelab-users-guide">{{cite web |title=Spacelab Users Guide: A Short Introduction to Spacelab and Its Use |url=https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/19770007242/downloads/19770007242.pdf#page=17 |publisher=[[ESA]] & [[NASA]] |access-date=24 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240124152807/https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/19770007242/downloads/19770007242.pdf#page=17 |archive-date=24 January 2024 |page=14 |year=1977 |url-status=live |id=N77-14185 }}</ref>

[[File:Spacelab pallet.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.0|Diagram of Spacelab pallet module]]
Spacelab consisted of a variety of interchangeable components, with the major one being a crewed laboratory that could be flown in the Space Shuttle orbiter's bay and returned to Earth.<ref name="Angelo">{{cite book |author=Joseph Angelo |title=Dictionary of Space Technology |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wSzfAQAAQBAJ&pg=PA393 |year=2013 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-135-94402-5 |page=393}}</ref> However, the habitable module did not have to be flown to conduct a Spacelab-type mission and there was a variety of pallets and other hardware supporting space research.<ref name="Angelo"/> The habitable module expanded the volume for astronauts to work in a [[shirt-sleeve environment]] and had space for equipment racks and related support equipment.<ref name="Angelo"/> When the habitable module was not used, some of the support equipment for the pallets could instead be housed in the smaller [[#Igloo|Igloo]], a pressurized cylinder connected to the Space Shuttle orbiter crew area.<ref name="Angelo"/>

Spacelab missions typically supported multiple experiments, and the [[STS-9|Spacelab 1]] mission had experiments in the fields of space plasma physics, [[solar physics]], [[atmospheric physics]], [[astronomy]], and [[Earth observation]].<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TweEC3h633AC&pg=PA433 |title=NASA's Scientist-Astronauts |first1=David |last1=Shayler |last2=Burgess |first2=Colin |date=2007 |publisher=Springer Science & Business Media |isbn=978-0-387-49387-9 |page=433 |bibcode=2006nasa.book.....S}} {{Source-attribution}}</ref> The selection of appropriate modules was part of mission planning for Spacelab Shuttle missions, and for example, a mission might need less habitable space and more pallets, or vice versa.

===Habitable module===
<!-- [[File:SpacelabFCs.jpg|thumb|upright=1.0|right|Spacelab flight configurations]]-->
[[File:Spacelab Module in Cargo Bay.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.0|Shuttle ''Columbia'' during [[STS-50]] with Spacelab Module LM1 and tunnel in its cargo bay]]

The habitable Spacelab laboratory module comprised a cylindrical environment in the rear of the Space Shuttle orbiter payload bay, connected to the orbiter crew compartment by a tunnel. The laboratory had an outer diameter of {{cvt|4.12|m}}, and each segment a length of {{cvt|2.7|m}}. The laboratory module consisted at minimum of a core segment, which could be used alone in a ''short module'' configuration. The ''long module'' configuration included an additional experiment segment.<ref name="NASA Historical Data Book">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=c39sVNPngJoC&pg=PA225 |title=NASA Historical Data Book |date=1988 |publisher=Scientific and Technical Information Division, [[NASA]] |page=225|isbn=9780160805011 }} {{Source-attribution}}</ref> It was also possible to operate Spacelab experiments from the orbiter's aft flight deck.<ref name="NASA Historical Data Book"/>

[[File:Crewmembers of STS-71, Mir-18 and Mir-19 Pose for Inflight Picture - GPN-2002-000061 rotated.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.0|Ten people inside the Spacelab Module in June 1995, celebrating the docking of the Space Shuttle and [[Mir]]]]
The pressurized tunnel had its connection point at the orbiter's mid-deck.<ref name=Angelo2014>{{cite book |author=Joseph A. Angelo |title=Human Spaceflight |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OGumSybNfFQC&pg=PA204 |year=2014 |publisher=Infobase Publishing |isbn=978-1-4381-0891-9 |page=204}}</ref> There were two different length tunnels depending on the location of the habitable module in the payload bay.<ref name=Angelo2014/> When the laboratory module was not used, but additional space was needed for support equipment, another structure called the ''Igloo'' could be used.<ref name=Angelo2014/>

[[File:Spacelab double module.jpg|thumb|upright=1.6|center|Spacelab long module configuration]]
Two laboratory modules were built, identified as LM1 and LM2. LM1 is on display at the [[Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center]] at the [[National Air and Space Museum|Smithsonian Air and Space Museum]] behind the Space Shuttle ''Discovery''. LM2 was on display in the ''Bremenhalle'' exhibition in the [[Bremen Airport]] of [[Bremen (city)|Bremen]], Germany from 2000 to 2010. It resides in building 4c at the nearby [[Airbus Defence and Space]] plant since 2010 and can only be viewed during guided tours.

===Pallet===
[[File:STS-75 Tethered Satellite System deployment.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.0|[[Space tether|Tethered]] Satellite System deployment, deployed from Spacelab pallet]]

The Spacelab Pallet is a U-shaped platform for mounting instrumentation, large instruments, experiments requiring exposure to space, and instruments requiring a large field of view, such as telescopes. The pallet has several hard points for mounting heavy equipment. The pallet can be used in single configuration or stacked end to end in double or triple configurations. Up to five pallets can be configured in the Space Shuttle cargo bay by using a double pallet plus triple pallet configurations.

The Spacelab Pallet used to transport both [[Canadarm2]] and [[Dextre]] to the International Space Station is currently at the [[Canada Aviation and Space Museum]], on loan from NASA through the [[Canadian Space Agency]] (CSA).<ref name=SLP-D1>{{cite web |url=http://aviation.technomuses.ca/media/press_releases/20sep12/ |title=Spacelab pallet completes its long journey arriving at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum}}</ref>

A Spacelab Pallet was transferred to the [[Swiss Museum of Transport]] for permanent display on 5 March 2010. The Pallet, nicknamed ''Elvis'', was used during the eight-day STS-46 mission, 31 July – 8 August 1992, when ESA astronaut [[Claude Nicollier]] was on board Space Shuttle ''Atlantis'' to deploy ESA's [[European Retrievable Carrier]] (Eureca) scientific mission and the joint NASA/ASI ([[Italian Space Agency]]) [[space tether|Tethered Satellite System]] (TSS-1). The Pallet carried TSS-1 in the Shuttle's cargo bay.<ref name=ESA-STS46>{{cite web |url=https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Operations/ESA_hands_over_a_piece_of_space_history |title=ESA hands over a piece of space history |publisher=ESA}}</ref>

Another Spacelab Pallet is on display at the U.S. [[National Air and Space Museum]] in [[Washington, D.C.]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.si.edu/exhibitions/spacelab-pallet-3462 |title=Spacelab Pallet}}</ref> There was a total of ten space-flown Spacelab pallets.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.space.com/23796-spacelab-space-shuttle-30-years-anniversary.html |title=Spacelab: Space Shuttle Flew Europe's First Space Module 30 Years Ago |date=2 December 2013 |publisher=Space.com}}</ref>

===Igloo===
On spaceflights where a habitable module was not flown, but pallets were flown, a pressurized cylinder known as the ''Igloo'' carried the subsystems needed to operate the Spacelab equipment.<ref name=HS-book>{{cite book |title=Human Spaceflight |author=Joseph A. Angelo |publisher=Infobase Publishing |page=[https://archive.org/details/humanspaceflight0000ange/page/272 p. 272] |date=2007 |isbn=978-0-8160-5775-7 |url=https://archive.org/details/humanspaceflight0000ange/page/272}}</ref> The Igloo was {{cvt|3|m}} tall, had a diameter of {{cvt|1.5|m}}, and weighed {{cvt|1100|kg}}.<ref name=NASM>{{cite web |url=http://www.nasm.si.edu/collections/artifact.cfm?id=A19990001003 |title=Spacelab Subsystems Igloo |publisher=National Air and Space Museum |access-date=23 November 2010}}</ref> Two Igloo units were manufactured, both by [[Belgium]] company [[Société Anonyme Belge de Constructions Aéronautiques|SABCA]], and both were used on spaceflights.<ref name=NASM/> An Igloo component was flown on [[STS-51-F |Spacelab 2]], [[STS-35|ASTRO-1]], ATLAS-1, ATLAS-2, ATLAS-3, and ASTRO-2.<ref name=NASM/>

A Spacelab Igloo is on display at the James S. McDonnell Space Hangar at the [[Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center]] in the US.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/spacelab-subsystems-igloo |title=Spacelab, Subsystems Igloo |date=2016-04-09 |work=National Air and Space Museum |access-date=2018-07-15}}</ref>

===Instrument Pointing System===
The IPS was a gimbaled pointing device, capable of aiming telescopes, cameras, or other instruments.<ref name="airandspace.si.edu">{{cite web |url=https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/spacelab-instrument-pointing-system |title=Spacelab, Instrument Pointing System |date=17 March 2016}}</ref> IPS was used on three different Space Shuttle missions between 1985 and 1995.<ref name="airandspace.si.edu"/> IPS was manufactured by [[Dornier Flugzeugwerke|Dornier]], and two units were made.<ref name="airandspace.si.edu"/> The IPS was primarily constructed out of aluminum, steel, and [[multi-layer insulation]].<ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite web |url=https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/spacelab-instrument-pointing-system |title=Spacelab, Instrument Pointing System |date=2016-03-18}}</ref>

IPS would be mounted inside the payload bay of the Space Shuttle Orbiter, and could provide gimbaled 3-axis pointing.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> It was designed for a pointing accuracy of less than 1 arcsecond (a unit of degree), and three pointing modes including Earth, Sun, and Stellar focused modes.<ref name=":0">{{cite journal |last1=Heusmann |first1=H. |last2=Wolf |first2=P. |date=1985 |title=The Spacelab Instrument Pointing System (IPS) and its first flight |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/234272535 |journal=ESA Bulletin |volume=44 |pages=75–79 |bibcode=1985ESABu..44...75H}}</ref> The IPS was mounted on a pallet exposed to outer space in the payload bay.<ref name=":0"/>

IPS missions:<ref name="airandspace.si.edu"/>
* Spacelab 2, a.k.a. [[STS-51-F]] launched 1985
* Astro-1, a.k.a. [[STS-35]] launched in 1990<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/archives/sts-35.html |title=NASA – STS-35 |first=Lynda Warnock |last=KSC}}</ref>
* Astro-2, a.k.a. [[STS-67]] launched in 1995

The Spacelab 2 mission flew the [[infrared telescope|Infrared Telescope]] (IRT), which was a {{cvt|15.2|cm}} aperture helium-cooled infrared telescope, observing light between wavelengths of 1.7 to 118 μm.<ref name=kent>[https://adsabs.harvard.edu/full/1992ApJS...78..403K Kent, et al. – ''Galactic structure from the Spacelab infrared telescope'' (1992)]</ref> IRT collected infrared data on 60% of the galactic plane.<ref name="ipac.caltech.edu">{{cite web |url=http://www.ipac.caltech.edu/outreach/Edu/orbit.html |title=History of Infrared Astronomy |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221020839/http://www.ipac.caltech.edu/outreach/Edu/orbit.html |archive-date=2016-12-21}}</ref>
{{See also|List of space telescopes}}

<gallery>
Spacelab IPS.jpg|Instrument Pointing System (IPS)
Astro2 sts67 big.jpg|IPS at work above the sky on Astro-2, 1995
Spacelab Instrument Pointing System at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, Dec 2017.jpg|Dornier Instrument Pointing System at the Smithsonian Museum (Udvar Hazy Center)
</gallery>

===List of parts===
[[File:Spacelab engineering model components unloaded from C-5 Galaxy.jpg|thumb|upright=1.0|right|Spacelab components are delivered, 1981.]]
[[File:MSFC-9010026 - STS-35 ASTRO-1 in OV-102's payload bay at KSC.jpg|thumb|upright=1.0|right|ASTRO-1 payload prepared, 1990]]

Examples of Spacelab components or hardware:{{citation needed|date=May 2018}}
* EVA Airlock
* Tunnel<ref name="NASA Historical Data Book"/>
* Tunnel adapter<ref name="NASA Historical Data Book"/>
* Igloo
* Spacelab module<ref name="ReferenceB">{{cite book |title=NASA Historical Data Book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=c39sVNPngJoC&pg=PA225 |year=1988 |publisher=Scientific and Technical Information Division, [[NASA]] |page=225| isbn=9780160805011 }} {{Source-attribution}}</ref>
** Forward end cone
** Aft end cone
** Core segment/module<ref name="NASA Historical Data Book"/>
** Experiment racks
** Experiment segment/module<ref name="ReferenceB"/>
* Electrical Ground Support Equipment
* Mechanical Ground Support Equipment
* Electrical Power Distribution Subsystem
* Command and Data Management Subsystem
* Environmental Control Subsystem
* Instrument Pointing System
* Pallet Structure
* Multi-Purpose Experiment Support Structure (MPESS)

The [[Extended Duration Orbiter]] (EDO) assembly was not Spacelab hardware, strictly speaking.  However, it was used most often on Spacelab flights. Also, NASA later used it with the [[SpaceHab]] modules.

==Missions==
[[File:STS-9 patch.svg|thumb|right|upright=1.0|Spacelab 1 mission patch]]
[[File:Sts-90-patch.svg|thumb|right|upright=1.0|STS-90 Neurolab mission patch]]
[[File:Shuttle Radar Topographic Mission (SRTM) Illustration.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.0|STS-99 radar Earth observation mission illustration]]
[[File:Payload bay sts-99.jpg|thumb|upright=1.0|right|View of orbiter bay on STS-99 with radar boom deployed, 2000]]
[[File:STS-094 shuttle.jpg|thumb|upright=1.0|right|STS-94 heads into orbit for the Microgravity research mission using Spacelab, 1997.]]

Spacelab components flew on 22 Space Shuttle missions from November 1983 to April 1998.<ref name=StoryShuttle>{{cite book |title=The Story of the Space Shuttle |author=David Michael Harland |publisher=Springer Science+Business Media |date=2004 |page=[https://archive.org/details/storyofspaceshut0000harl/page/444 444] |isbn=978-1-85233-793-3 |author-link=David M. Harland |url=https://archive.org/details/storyofspaceshut0000harl/page/444}}</ref> The Spacelab components were decommissioned in 1998, except the Pallets. Science work was moved to the [[International Space Station]] (ISS) and [[Spacehab]] module, a pressurized carrier similar to the Spacelab Module. A Spacelab Pallet was recommissioned in 2000 for flight on [[STS-99]]. The "Spacelab Pallet – Deployable 1 (SLP-D1) with Canadian [[Dextre]] (Purpose Dexterous Manipulator)" was launched on [[STS-123]]. The Spacelab components were used on 41 Shuttle missions in total.

The habitable modules were flown on 16 Space Shuttle missions in the 1980s and 1990s.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.space.com/23796-spacelab-space-shuttle-30-years-anniversary.html |title=Spacelab: Space Shuttle Flew Europe's First Space Module 30 Years Ago |publisher=Space.com |access-date=2018-07-15}}</ref> Spacelab Pallet missions were flown 6 times and Spacelab Pallets were flown on other missions 19 times.

{{sticky header}}
{| class="wikitable sticky-header"
|-
! Mission name
! [[Space Shuttle orbiter|Orbiter]]
! Launch date
! Spacelab <br>mission name
! Pressurized <br>module
! Unpressurized <br>modules
|-
| [[STS-2]]
| ''Columbia''
| November 12, 1981
| OSTA-1
| 
| 1 Pallet (E002)<ref name=STS2>{{cite web |url=https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/archives/sts-2.html |title=STS-2 |publisher=NASA |access-date=23 November 2010}} {{Source-attribution}}</ref>
|-
| [[STS-3]]
| ''Columbia''
| March 22, 1982
| OSS-1
| 
| 1 Pallet (E003)<ref name=STS3>{{cite web |url=https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/archives/sts-3.html |title=STS-3 |publisher=NASA |access-date=23 November 2010}} {{Source-attribution}}</ref>
|-
| [[STS-9]]
| ''Columbia''
| November 28, 1983
| Spacelab 1
| Module LM1
| 1 Pallet (F001)
|-
| [[STS-41-G]]
| ''Challenger''
| October 5, 1984
| OSTA-3
| 
| 1 Pallet (F006)<ref name=NASA28>{{cite web |url=https://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/1999/msad15mar99_1/ |title=Spacelab joined diverse scientists and disciplines on 28 Shuttle missions |publisher=NASA |date=15 March 1999 |access-date=23 November 2010}} {{Source-attribution}}</ref>
|-
| [[STS-51-A]]
| ''Discovery''
| November 8, 1984
| Retrieval of 2 satellites
| 
| 2 Pallets (F007+F008)
|-
| [[STS-51-B]]
| ''Challenger''
| April 29, 1985
| Spacelab 3
| Module LM1
| [[Multi-Purpose Experiment Support Structure|MPESS]]
|-
| [[STS-51-F]]
| ''Challenger''
| July 29, 1985
| Spacelab 2
| Igloo
| 3 Pallets (F003+F004+F005) + IPS
|-
| [[STS-61-A]]
| ''Challenger''
| October 30, 1985
| Spacelab D1
| Module LM2
| MPESS
|-
| [[STS-35]]
| ''Columbia''
| December 2, 1990
| ASTRO-1
| Igloo
| 2 Pallets (F002+F010) + IPS
|-
| [[STS-40]]
| ''Columbia''
| June 5, 1991
| SLS-1
| Module LM1
| 
|-
| [[STS-42]]
| ''Discovery''
| January 22, 1992
| IML-1
| Module LM2
| 
|-
| [[STS-45]]
| ''Atlantis''
| March 24, 1992
| ATLAS-1
| Igloo
| 2 Pallets (F004+F005)
|-
| [[STS-50]]
| ''Columbia''
| June 25, 1992
| USML-1
| Module LM1
| [[Extended Duration Orbiter|EDO]]
|-
| [[STS-46]]
| ''Atlantis''
| July 31, 1992
| TSS-1
| 
| 1 Pallet (F003)<ref name=ESA-STS46/>
|-
| [[STS-47|STS-47 (J)]]
| ''Endeavour''
| September 12, 1992
| Spacelab-J
| Module LM2
| 
|-
| [[STS-56]]
| ''Discovery''
| April 8, 1993
| ATLAS-2
| Igloo
| 1 Pallet (F008)
|-
| [[STS-55|STS-55 (D2)]]
| ''Columbia''
| April 26, 1993
| Spacelab D2
| Module LM1
| Unique Support Structure (USS)
|-
| [[STS-58]]
| ''Columbia''
| October 18, 1993
| SLS-2
| Module LM2
| EDO
|-
| [[STS-61]]
| ''Endeavour''
| December 2, 1993
| HST SM 01
| 
| 1 Pallet (F009)
|-
| [[STS-59]]
| ''Endeavour''
| April 9, 1994
| SRL-1
| 
| 1 Pallet (F006)
|-
| [[STS-65]]
| ''Columbia''
| July 8, 1994
| IML-2
| Module LM1
| EDO
|-
| [[STS-64]]
| ''Discovery''
| September 9, 1994
| LITE
| 
| 1 Pallet (F007)<ref name=PraxisLog>{{cite book |title=Manned Spaceflight Log 1961–2006 |author=Tim Furniss |author2=David Shayler |author3=Michael Derek Shayler |publisher=Springer Praxis |page=829 |date=2007}}</ref>
|-
| [[STS-68]]
| ''Endeavour''
| September 30, 1994
| SRL-2
| 
| 1 Pallet (F006)
|-
| [[STS-66]]
| ''Atlantis''
| November 3, 1994
| ATLAS-3
| Igloo
| 1 Pallet (F008)
|-
| [[STS-67]]
| ''Endeavour''
| March 2, 1995
| ASTRO-2
| Igloo
| 2 Pallets (F002+F010) + IPS + EDO
|-
| [[STS-71]]
| ''Atlantis''
| June 27, 1995
| Spacelab-Mir
| Module LM2
| 
|-
| [[STS-73]]
| ''Columbia''
| October 20, 1995
| USML-2
| Module LM1
| EDO
|-
| [[STS-75]]
| ''Columbia''
| February 22, 1996
| TSS-1R / USMP-3
| 
| 1 Pallet (F003)<ref name=NASA28/> + 2 MPESS + EDO
|-
| [[STS-78]]
| ''Columbia''
| June 20, 1996
| LMS
| Module LM2
| EDO
|-
| [[STS-82]]
| ''Discovery''
| February 21, 1997
| HST SM 02
| 
| 1 Pallet (F009)<ref name=NASA28/>
|-
| [[STS-83]]
| ''Columbia''
| April 4, 1997
| MSL-1
| Module LM1
| EDO
|-
| [[STS-94]]
| ''Columbia''
| July 1, 1997
| MSL-1R
| Module LM1
| EDO
|-
| [[STS-90]]
| ''Columbia''
| April 17, 1998
| Neurolab
| Module LM2
| EDO
|-
| [[STS-103]]
| ''Discovery''
| December 20, 1999
| HST SM 03A
| 
| 1 Pallet (F009)
|-
| [[STS-99]]
| ''Endeavour''
| February 11, 2000
| SRTM
| 
| 1 Pallet (F006)
|-
| [[STS-92]]
| ''Discovery''
| October 11, 2000
| ISS assembly
| 
| 1 Pallet (F005)
|-
| [[STS-100]]
| ''Endeavour''
| April 19, 2001
| ISS assembly
| 
| 1 Pallet (F004)
|-
| [[STS-104]]
| ''Atlantis''
| July 12, 2001
| ISS assembly
| 
| 2 Pallets (F002+F010)
|-
| [[STS-109]]
| ''Columbia''
| March 1, 2002
| HST SM 03B
| 
| 1 Pallet (F009)
|-
| [[STS-123]]
| ''Endeavour''
| March 11, 2008
| ISS assembly
| 
| 1 Pallet (F004)
|-
| [[STS-125]]
| ''Atlantis''
| May 11, 2009
| HST SM 04
| 
| 1 Pallet (F009)
|}

Mission name acronyms:
* ATLAS: Atmospheric Laboratory for Applications and Science
* ASTRO: Not an acronym; abbreviation for "astronomy"
* IML: International Microgravity Laboratory
* LITE: Lidar In-space Technology Experiment
* LMS: Life and Microgravity Sciences
* MSL: Materials Science Laboratory
* SLS: Spacelab Life Sciences
* SRL: Space Radar Laboratory
* TSS: Tethered Satellite System
* USML: U.S. Microgravity Laboratory
* USMP: U.S. Microgravity Payload

Besides contributing to ESA missions, [[Germany]] and [[Japan]] each funded their own Space Shuttle and Spacelab missions. Although superficially similar to other flights, they were actually the first and only non-U.S. and non-European human space missions with complete German and Japanese control.{{Citation needed|date=November 2010}}

[[File:STS-61-a-patch.png|thumb|upright=1.0|right|The ''Deutschland-1'' orbital space plane flight, funded by [[West Germany]], included over seven [[short ton|tons]] of German science research equipment.]]

The first West German mission ''Deutschland 1'' (Spacelab-D1, DLR-1, NASA designation [[STS-61-A]]) took place in 1985. A second similar mission, ''Deutschland 2'' (Spacelab-D2, DLR-2, NASA designation [[STS-55]]), was first planned for 1988, but due to the [[Space Shuttle Challenger disaster|Space Shuttle ''Challenger'' disaster]], was delayed until 1993. It became the first German human space mission after [[German reunification]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fas.org/spp/guide/germany/piloted/index.html |title=Germany and Piloted Space Missions |publisher=Fas.org |access-date=2012-04-17}}</ref>

The only Japan mission, [[STS-47|Spacelab-J]] (NASA designation [[STS-47]]), took place in 1992.

===Other missions===
* [[STS-92]], October 2000, [[Pressurized Mating Adapter|PMA]]-3, ({{OV|103|full=no}})
* [[STS-108]], December 2001, Lightweight Mission Peculiar Support Structure Carrier (LMC) ({{OV|105|full=no}})
* [[STS-123]], March 2008, Pallet ({{OV|105|full=no}}), [[Dextre]]

===Cancelled missions===
Spacelab-4, Spacelab-5, and other planned Spacelab missions were cancelled due to the late development of the Shuttle and the ''Challenger'' disaster.

===Gallery===
<gallery>
Sunrise over Spacelab.jpg|Spacelab in payload bay during [[STS-90]]
STS-9 Spacelab 1.jpg|Shuttle ''Columbia'' during [[STS-9]] with Spacelab Module LM1 and tunnel in its cargo bay
Spacelab-in-shuttle.jpg|Illustrated cutaway of orbiter and lab
</gallery>

==Legacy==
[[File:German Spacelab 03.JPG|thumb|upright=1.0|right|Spacelab LM2 in Speyer, Germany (2008)]]
[[File:D1 ex ei hires.jpg|thumb|upright=1.0|right|A golden-colored egg floating weightless on the Spacelab D1 mission, due to the continuous free-fall of being in orbit creating a [[micro-g environment|microgravity environment]] on the spacecraft, 1985]]

The legacy of Spacelab lives on in the form of the [[Multi-Purpose Logistics Module|MPLMs]] and the systems derived from it. These systems include the [[Automated Transfer Vehicle|ATV]] and [[Cygnus spacecraft]] used to transfer payloads to the [[International Space Station]], and the [[Columbus (ISS module)|Columbus]], [[Harmony (ISS module)|Harmony]] and [[Tranquility (ISS module)|Tranquility]] modules of the [[International Space Station]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://esamultimedia.esa.int/docs/columbus/newspaper/ESA_ColumbusLab_newspaper_ENG.pdf |title=A new European science laboratory in Earth orbit}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/files/03-Walz_Cygnus_Beyond_Low-Earth_Orbit.pdf |title=Cygnus Beyond Low-Earth Orbit – Logistics and Habitation in Cis-Lunar Space}}</ref>

The Spacelab 2 mission surveyed 60% of the galactic plane in infrared in 1985.<ref name="ipac.caltech.edu"/>

Spacelab was an extremely large program, and this was enhanced by different experiments and multiple payloads and configurations over two decades. For example, in a subset of just one part of the Spacelab 1 (STS-9) mission, no less than eight different imaging systems were flown into space. Including those experiments, there was a total of 73 separate experiments across different disciplines on the Spacelab 1 flight alone. Spacelab missions conducted experiments in materials, life, solar, astrophysics, atmospheric, and Earth science.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://directory.eoportal.org/web/eoportal/satellite-missions/s/spacelab |title=Spacelab - eoPortal Directory - Satellite Missions}}</ref>

{{Blockquote|Spacelab represents a major investment on the order of one billion dollars from our European friends. But its completion marks something equally important: The commitment of a dogged, dedicated, and talented team drawn from ESA Governments, universities, and industries who stuck with it for a decade and saw the project through. We are proud of your perseverance and congratulate you on your success.|NASA Administrator, 1982<ref>{{cite web |url=https://history.nasa.gov/EP-165/ch1.htm |title=chapter 1}}</ref>}}

==Diagram, Spacelab module and pallet==
[[File:Celý spacelab 2.JPG|thumb|left|upright=2|Spacelab layout showing tunnel, pressurized Module and Pallet: {{Ordered list|transitional and connecting tunnel between orbiter and Spacelab|payload space hinges|footstalks|experimental unit|hyperbaric (?) modules|external platform|infrared telescope|device for research Earth's magnetic field|payload space of orbiter|back side of front part of orbiter}}]]

{{Clear}}

==See also==
{{Portal|Spaceflight}}
* [[Columbus Man-Tended Free Flyer]]
* [[Hermes (spacecraft)]]
* [[International Space Station]]
** [[Columbus (ISS module)|''Columbus'' (ISS module)]]
* [[Space Shuttle retirement]]
* [[Space Station Freedom]]
* [[Spacehab module]] (various, not to be confused with Spacelab)
* [[The Man-Machine#Track listing|Spacelab]], a 1978 song by [[Kraftwerk]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Spacelab}}
* [http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/technology/sts-newsref/spacelab.html Spacelab history on NASA.gov] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120918002441/http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/technology/sts-newsref/spacelab.html |date=18 September 2012 }}
* [https://history.nasa.gov/EP-165/contents.htm Spacelab: An International Short-Stay Orbiting Laboratory, NASA-EP-165 on NASA.gov]
* [https://history.nasa.gov/NP-119/contents.htm Science in Orbit: The Shuttle & Spacelab Experience, 1981–1986, NASA-NP-119 on NASA.gov]
* [https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/launch/spacelab_shuttle.html Spacelab Payloads on Shuttle Flights on NASA.gov]
* [http://libarchstor.uah.edu:8081/repositories/2/resources/97 James Downey Collection, UAH Archives and Special Collections] files of James A. Downey III, project manager for Spacelab payloads
* Lord, Douglas R. [https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=385517&id=1&qs=Ntt%3DSapcelab%252Bstory%26Ntk%3DTitle%26Ntx%3Dmode%2520matchall%26N%3D0%26Ns%3DHarvestDate%257c1 ''Spacelab An international success story'', NASA-SP-487] NASA, January 1, 1987
* SLP/2104-2: Spacelab Payload Accommodation Handbook

{{Space Shuttle}}
{{European human spaceflight}}
{{Orbital launches in 2008}}

[[Category:Crewed space observatories]]
[[Category:Space hardware returned to Earth intact]]
[[Category:Space science]]
[[Category:Space Shuttle program]]