A European laboratory is on its way to the international space station aboard the shuttle Atlantis.

The Columbus lab will be used to examine the effect of weightlessness on animals and plants and it will contain experiments to record the behaviour of liquid in zero gravity.

Scientists hope the laboratory will improve the understanding of age-related bone loss and balance disorders in humans.

The study of weightless liquids could help with the clear-up of oil spills and the manufacture of optical lenses.

The laboratory was originally conceived in 1985 and it has cost £1 billion. It is a 23-foot long pressurised cylinder that measures 15 feet in diameter and was built in Italy and Germany.

The shuttle Atlantis launched from Cape Canaveral with seven crew on board, overcoming fuel gauge problems that forced two launch attempts to be aborted in December.

Nasa administrator Michael Griffin said: "Certainly, no launch can be any more momentous than the launch of Columbus, which brings to the space station truly international capability and participation."

Jean-Jacques Dordain, ESA Director General, said, "We are opening a new chapter for ESA starting by the utilisation of Columbus"

"I must say that the member states have invested a lot during the last 20 years to develop Columbus and now they will be able to reap the benefits."

An American laboratory, Destiny, was added to the international space station in 2001 and a bigger Japanese lab, called Kibo, will be installed later this year, but it will be transported in three separate flights.

During the mission, Atlantis will also drop off French Air Force General Leopold Eyharts, who will swap places with Nasa astronaut Daniel Tani.

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