First Europe lab installed on space station

Astronauts on Monday installed the European space laboratory Columbus on the orbiting International Space Station, giving Europe an important foothold for the deeper exploration of space.

"The European Columbus module is officially part of the International Space Station," said French space engineer Leopold Eyharts, as NASA broadcast live images of the installation, which took place at 2144 GMT.

The long-delayed move gives European space agencies a presence alongside US and Russian astronauts on the ISS, a preparation point for future human missions to Mars.

Two astronauts from the US space shuttle Atlantis earlier made a seven-hour space walk to prepare Columbus for its hook-up to the station, orbiting 350 kilometers (215 miles) above the Earth.