Columbus has been delivered to Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in summer 2006 for final integration, test and mission preparation. In the frame of these “last” phase activities also the Active Thermal Control System (ATCS) had to be finalized and prepared for the launch resp. mission.
Due to unexpected late failures resp. malfunctions detected on component/unit level of the ATCS, refurbishment, integration / exchange of the relevant components and re-testing of their system level functions had to be done. Moreover, the still outstanding system level fluid leakage test of the ATCS had to be revised and completed.
In addition to the required late refurbishment, integration and test activities, in certain cases also operational workarounds had to be evaluated. They should help to cope with similar contingency situations during operation of the ATCS on-orbit.
The present paper gives an overview on the failures detected during ground operations of the ATCS and it describes the refurbishment, integration and test activities performed in the frame of the Columbus module preparation for launch and mission. Further on, lessons learnt and operational workaround evaluated to cope with contingency scenarios on-orbit during nominal operation of the ATCS will be presented.