Window Observational Research Facility

The WORF will maximize the use of this window by providing sensors (cameras, multi-spectral and hyper-spectral scanners, camcorders and other instruments) to capture imagery of the Earth and space.

WORF also provides attachment points for power and data transfer and the capability for multiple instruments to be mounted and used in the window simultaneously.

The interior of the WORF provides a non-reflective, light-tight environment to minimize stray reflections and glare off the window allowing use to equipment that are sensitive to extremely low energy phenomena such as auroras.

An opaque fabric shroud can be attached to the front of the rack to allow crew-members to work in the WORF without the problem of glare from the U.S.

This external window shutter pivots on hinges and is rotated open and closed by the crew using controls on the WORF rack.

For crew-tended operations, the WORF hatch will be removed and the crew member can use the payload shroud to block any incoming light from the U.S.