The Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS-02) is a state-of-the-art particle physics detector designed to operate as an external module on the International Space Station. It will use the unique environment of space to study the universe and its origin by searching for antimatter, dark matter while performing precision measurements of cosmic rays composition and flux. The AMS-02 observations will help answer fundamental questions, such as "What makes up the universe's invisible mass?" or "What happened to the primordial antimatter?"
After final testing at ESA's European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC) facility in the Netherlands,delivery to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida took place on 26 August 2010. The launch of Space Shuttle Endeavour flight STS-134 carrying AMS-02 took place on 16 May 2011, and the spectrometer was installed on 19 May 2011. In July 2012, it was reported that AMS-02 had recorded over 18 billion cosmic ray events since its installation.
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