French astronaut Leo Eyharts will wear a breathing mask and goggles when he enters the Columbus module for the first time. Though the laboratory was built in clean room conditions, it's still possible that dust or metal shavings from construction may float up in microgravity.
After a few hours, the module's air conditioning system will have filtered the air and any possible contaminants.
Eyharts is scheduled to enter to module about 9 a.m. EST. The module has passed initial leak checks.
"We'll start by hooking up power jumpers, fluid lines and data lines to allow Columbus to receive power and other resources from space station and not just be structurally attached," Ron Spencer, ISS flight director, said.
"Leo is going to be the one who gets to go in there first."
The Columbus control center in Germany will immediately take over the systems.
While the station crew prepares the Columbus module, the shuttle crew will prepare for a spacewalk on Wednesday.
German astronaut Hans Schlegel apparently has recovered from a "medical issue" that prevented him from making Monday's spacewalk. He will spacewalk Wednesday with Rex Walheim.
"They're going to do the nitrogen tank assembly changeout as planned," said Spencer.
Click for STS-122 fact sheet.
Click for NASA-TV schedule, which details mission events.
Click for flight day 6 execute package.
Scientific data will come from the Columbus module within two weeks.
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