Angela Merkel has taken part in an inauguration ceremony for the Columbus - je 15.02.2008 08 UTC

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has taken part in an inauguration ceremony for the Columbus Laboratory module, which was installed on the International Space Station this week. The lab is the European Space Agency's main contribution to the ISS, and heralds a much stronger co-operation between the US and Europe on the project. The Chancellor congratulated German astronaut Hans Schlegel and his colleagues via a special live communication up-link.