What is Bartolomeo? External Payload & Science Hosting Facility on ISS Columbus Module

Bartolomeo is an external platform attached to the Columbus module of European Space Agency (ESA) on the International Space Station (ISS). It hosts various scientific experiments, payloads, and instruments that require exposure to the space environment. Bartolomeo provides researchers and organizations around the world with opportunities to conduct experiments in microgravity, observe Earth, test new technologies, and perform other space-related activities.

Bartolomeo is manufactured and operated by Airbus, offering utilization services through the Bartolomeo All-In-One Space Mission Service under commercial B2B contracts. The All-in-One Space Mission Service includes all required mission elements in one single commercial contract. Mission durations range from 12 months to 7 years, with launch opportunities available every 3 months.

If you are interested in conducting experiments in the exposed space environment, Bartolomeo is a great choice because of its unique capabilities and advantages. As a platform on the ISS, Bartolomeo offers convenient access to space for a wide range of payloads, providing power, data, and communication support. Its location outside the ISS allows for direct exposure to the harsh space environment, enabling experiments that require unobstructed views of Earth or the cosmos. With its user-friendly interface and efficient integration process, Bartolomeo provides researchers with a cost-effective and reliable platform to conduct their experiments and advance scientific knowledge in microgravity.

Features
● Affordable, fast and easy access to Space
● Starting at €500,000
● Unprecedented hosting options & flexibility
● Ability to fly multiple payloads as single mission
● Reliable
● Scalability of missions
● Launch opportunities on all ISS Visiting Vehicles
● Easy, streamlined process
● Best viewing conditions on the ISS
● Return of payloads/ samples as an option

Bartolomeo has 8 main payload sites and 4 additional payload sites for daisy chain. On the dedicated carrier called ArgUS multi-payload carrier, multiple smaller payloads can be installed. Below is an overview of the service specifications offered by Bartolomeo. It has a standard payload interface and is designed to be user-friendly for first-time space users. If you are interested, please contact here for more details.

● Independent accommodation & operation of 8 - 12 external payloads on International Space Station
● Best Nadir, Zenith and Limb viewing conditions
● Good platform stability
● Payload volume from 1U to 1 m3
● Payload mass up to 450 kg including FSE
● Payload power 180 - 800 W in standard configuration
● Heater power up to 100 W, redundant
● Two-fault tolerant protection against inadvertent power activation, enabling operation of hazardous payloads in compliance with ISS Safety regulations
● Payload TM / TC and data provision with 10 Mbps bandwidth available ~75% of orbit
● Ethernet-based VPN with recoverable file exchange, data provided on ground through Airbus secure cloud or customer-specific front end

Bartolomeo is named after the younger brother of Christopher Columbus, Bartholomew Columbus. Just as his brother paved the way for new discoveries during the Age of Exploration, Bartolomeo on the ISS opens up new opportunities for research and innovation in space. It's quite fitting, isn't it? The name pays homage to the spirit of exploration and discovery, reflecting the platform's mission to push the boundaries of space science and technology.

When you hear Airbus, most of you probably think of airplanes first, right? Airbus, undoubtedly a global leader in the aviation industry, is actually a large corporation with a long history as a space company as well. Airbus was the prime contractor for the development of several major payload facilities used onboard the ISS. In addition to Bartolomeo, the following is a partial list of ISS-certified, Airbus built, hardware available for use.

● Microgravity Science glove box (MSG)
● Minus Eighty Degree Freezer (MELFI)
● Material Science Lab (MSL)
● European Modular Cultivation System (EMCS)
● BIOLAB
● Protein Crystallization Diagnostic Facility (PCDF)
● Rodent Life Support System

Airbus U.S. Space & Defense, Inc., a subsidiary of the global aerospace corporation Airbus, focuses on delivering cutting-edge space and defense solutions. Its expertise spans satellite systems, launch services, and defense electronics, supporting national security efforts and driving progress in space exploration.

In recent years, Airbus U.S. Space & Defense, Inc. has been offering commercial services not only to public projects but also to users in Europe and the United States, contributing to the commercialization of low Earth orbit (LEO).