AMS experiment embarks on first leg of mission into space

Geneva, 12 February 2010. The Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) left CERN ¹ this morning on the first leg of its journey to the International Space Station (ISS). A special convoy carrying the experiment is due to arrive at the European Space Agency's research and technology centre, ESTEC, at Noordwijk in the Netherlands in six days time. Once there, the detector will undergo testing of its ability to survive a shuttle lift-off and to operate in space. Twenty members of the AMS collaboration will accompany the detector on its journey. Construction of the AMS detector components was carried out by an international team with significant contributions from CERN Member States France, Germany, Italy, Portugal Spain and Switzerland, as well as China , China (Taipei) and the USA. Assembly was carried out at CERN with help from the Laboratory's engineering services.