  Microgravity eases several constraints limiting experiments with ultracold
and condensed atoms on ground. It enables extended times of flight without
suspension and eliminates the gravitational sag for trapped atoms. These
advantages motivated numerous initiatives to adapt and operate experimental
setups on microgravity platforms. We describe the design of the payload,
motivations for design choices, and capabilities of the Bose-Einstein
Condensate and Cold Atom Laboratory (BECCAL), a NASA-DLR collaboration. BECCAL
builds on the heritage of previous devices operated in microgravity, features
rubidium and potassium, multiple options for magnetic and optical trapping,
different methods for coherent manipulation, and will offer new perspectives
for experiments on quantum optics, atom optics, and atom interferometry in the
unique microgravity environment on board the International Space Station.
