An Airbus A300-600ST Beluga has been contracted to assist NASA with the transportation of components for the International Space Station (ISS). The Beluga, which is operated by the consortium's cargo airline division, Airbus Transport Inter- national, transported an 18,200kg (40,000lb) Mini Pressurized Logistic Module between Alenia Spazio's plant in Turin, Italy, and Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA, for launch on the Space Shuttle Discovery. In addition to another module that will be delivered in early 1999, Airbus expects the Beluga to be called upon to transport other elements of the ISS programme.
Source: Flight International
