An Airbus Transport International platform is moved in front of the nose of the Beluga airbus in order to offload the European Space Agency's laboratory designated Columbus.

At the Shuttle Landing Facility, an Airbus Transport International platform is moved in front of the nose of the Beluga airbus in order to offload the European Space Agency's research laboratory, designated Columbus. After being unloaded, the module will be transported to the Space Station Processing Facility. There the module will be prepared for delivery to the International Space Station on a future space shuttle mission. Columbus will expand the research facilities of the station and provide researchers with the ability to conduct numerous experiments in the area of life, physical and materials sciences. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann