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The Cold Atom Lab is a facility for the study of ultra-cold quantum gases in the microgravity environment of the International Space Station (ISS). It enables research in a temperature regime and force free environment that is inaccessible to terrestrial laboratories. In the microgravity environment, observation times over 10 seconds and temperatures below 100 pK are achievable, unlocking the potential to observe new quantum phenomena. The Cold Atom Lab facility is designed for use by multiple scientific investigators and to be upgradable/maintainable on orbit. The Cold Atom Lab will also be a pathfinder experiment for future quantum sensors based on laser cooled atoms enabling exquisitely precise measurements of a wide variety of phenomenon.

A 3D engineering rendering of an open equipment rack, possibly for avionics or laboratory use. The rack, shown in a dark gray metallic color, contains multiple electronic modules and components. In the upper section, there is a unit with a light-colored housing. Below it, a larger module features a complex arrangement of colorful circuit boards and connectors in blue, green, and purple hues, with some larger green and gray components. The rack is designed with numerous mounting points and openings for ventilation and cabling.
The Cold Atom Lab in Express Rack (front panels removed for clarity)

The Cold Atom Lab launched May 21, 2018 on a Pressurized Cargo Vehicle in soft-stowage. After docking with ISS the Cold Atom Lab payload was installed by astronauts into an EXPRESS (EXpedite the PRocessing of Experiments to Space Station) Rack inside the space station (pictured above). The EXPRESS Rack provides a standardized power, data, thermal, and mechanical interface to scientific payloads. The Cold Atom Lab occupies a quad locker space due to its size and power requirements. The payload is operated remotely via sequences control from the Earth Orbiting Missions Operation Center (EOMOC) at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (pictured below). CAL has been operating continuously since June 2018 as a multi-user facility for the study of quantum matter in the persistent microgravity environment of the ISS.

An interior view of a cargo bay, likely in an aircraft or spacecraft, filled with numerous rectangular white bags secured with black straps. The bags are stacked and strapped against the walls and floor of the compartment. Labels "PORT," "AFT," and "FWD" are visible on the interior walls, indicating directions within the cargo hold. The overall impression is one of tightly packed and organized storage.
Pressurized Cargo Vehicle
A close-up view of an equipment rack, likely in a spacecraft or laboratory, with several modules installed. On the right, two white, box-like modules are stacked vertically, with the lower one showing an open front revealing internal compartments. The left side of the rack is an empty bay with a metallic back panel featuring several square openings. The top and bottom sections of the rack are populated with numerous knobs, connectors, and switches, and labels such as "LOCKER," "SPEAKER," "RAMS," and "LAPTOP" are visible.
EXPRESS Rack

A NASA Research Announcement was released on July 11, 2013 to solicit proposals from academic and research institutions to utilize the Cold Atom Lab facility. From this NRA, seven flight investigators were chosen to perform a variety of experiments studying quantum matter in space.

Science Mission Objectives

The Cold Atom Lab science mission objectives are derived from the microgravity decadal survey. The Cold Atom Lab utilizes the microgravity environment of the International Space Station (ISS) to form, create, and study ultra-cold quantum gases. The Cold Atom Lab is a technology and science pathfinder mission for future experiments involving cold atoms, while at the same time it enables a world-class group of scientists to perform investigations in a unique environment.

A multi-panel presentation slide providing an overview of the CAL (Cold Atom Laboratory) facility and its utilization on the International Space Station (ISS). The left side details "CAL ISS Utilization" with a timeline from "Science Definition Sept 2012" to "Mission Operations 2018-2021," and an illustration showing the CAL payload being delivered to the ISS via a Cygnus OA-9 launch in May 2018, its installation into an Express Rack, and data relay to NASA/JPL. The top right panel describes "CAL Science Facility" with a diagram of the CAL science module, labeled with "Installation Rails," "Electronics," "Water Out," and "C&DH." The bottom right panel shows images of an "Engineering Model Test Bed," including the "CAL EM Physics Package" and "CAL EM Testbed" with "Sliding heat exchanger plates." Text sections explain that the CAL payload will be installed by astronauts into an EXPRESS Rack and operated remotely from JPL. Another image shows a mission operations control room, indicating "Daily operations will be conducted from a dedicated Mission Ops area."
Cold Atom Lab Mission architecture
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