THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION'S MAJOR ASSMEBLY MISSIONS

THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION’S MAJOR ASSEMBLY MISSIONS

1998

• NOVEMBER 20: The Zarya Control Module, launched aboard a Proton rocket, becomes the first ISS building block in space.

• DECEMBER 4: The Unity (Node 1) module, with two Pressurized Mating Adapters (PMAs), arrives aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour and is attached to Zarya.

2000

• JULY 12: The Zvezda Service Module, launched aboard a Proton rocket, docks with Zarya’s aft port.

• OCTOBER 11: The Z1 truss, a transitional building block, and a third Pressurized Mating Adapter, for spacecraft berthing, are carried by the Space Shuttle Discovery and berthed to the Unity module.

• OCTOBER 30: The first ISS crew, Expedition 1, launches aboard a Soyuz spacecraft and begins work in the Zarya module.

• NOVEMBER 30: The Space Shuttle Endeavour delivers the P6 truss piece, with the station’s first set of solar arrays, to orbit, and astronauts temporarily mount it atop the Z1 truss at the station’s center.

2001

• FEBRUARY 7: The Space Shuttle Atlantis delivers the U.S. Destiny Laboratory Module, which is berthed to Unity’s forward port.

• MARCH 8: The Space Shuttle Discovery carries the Leonardo Multipurpose Logistics Module (MPLM), a reusable space cargo container, into orbit – the first use of the MPLM to bring supplies to the station.

• APRIL 19: Canadarm2, the robot arm used for berthing, maintenance, and assembly, is launched aboard Endeavour and is temporarily attached to the Destiny Laboratory’s underside.

• JULY 12: The Quest Joint Airlock is brought to the station by the shuttle Atlantis and, with the help of Canadarm2, is swung into place and berthed to Unity’s starboard port.

• SEPTEMBER 14: The Pirs docking compartment is launched aboard a Russian Progress cargo vehicle and is attached to the nadir (bottom) port of the Zvezda module.

2002

• APRIL 8: The first piece of the transverse truss structure, the central S0 segment, is launched aboard Atlantis and is attached by astronauts directly, with four rigid struts, to the Destiny Laboratory Module. The S0 truss also contains the first element of the Mobile Transporter – the railcar Canadarm2 will use to traverse the truss structure.

• JUNE 5: Endeavour delivers the Mobile Base element—the platform on which Canadarm 2 will sit – and astronauts attach the Mobile Transporter.

• OCTOBER 7: Atlantis launches to orbit with the first starboard truss segment, S1.

• NOVEMBER 23: The first port truss segment, P1, is launched aboard Endeavour. The P6 solar arrays are deployed and activated.

2006

• SEPTEMBER 9: Atlantis brings the second and third port truss segments, P3/P4, equipped with solar arrays and a thermal radiator.

• DECEMBER 9: The P5 truss segment is launched aboard Discovery.

2007

• JUNE 8: The second and third starboard truss segments, S3/S4, equipped with solar arrays, are launched aboard Atlantis.

• AUGUST 8: Endeavour delivers the S5 truss segment.

• OCTOBER 23: Harmony (Node 2), which would connect Destiny with the European and Japanese laboratory modules, is launched aboard Discovery and is eventually berthed to Destiny’s forward port. The P6 truss is moved to its final home at the port end of the station. The “U.S. Core Complete” assembly milestone is achieved.

2008

• FEBRUARY 7: Atlantis brings the European Columbus Laboratory Module, which is berthed to Harmony’s starboard port.

• MARCH 11: The first pressurized component of the Japanese Kibo laboratory, the Experiment Logistics Module, is launched aboard Endeavour and parked temporarily at Harmony’s zenith port.

• MAY 31: Discovery brings the main Japanese laboratory module and its robotic arm. The Kibo Laboratory Module is berthed to Harmony’s port side, and then Canadarm2 swings the Experiment Logistics Module into place atop the main laboratory.

2009

• MARCH 15: S6, the final starboard truss segment, and the final ISS solar array wings are launched aboard Discovery.

• JULY 15: The Experiment Module Exposed Facility and Exposed Section – the “terraces” for Japanese experiments exposed to space – are launched aboard Endeavour.

• NOVEMBER 12: Poisk, the Russian Mini-Research Module, is launched aboard a Progress vehicle from a Soyuz rocket. Poisk is docked to the zenith port of Zvezda.

2010

• FEBRUARY 8: Endeavour delivers Tranquility (Node 3), which is berthed to the Unity node’s port side, and the multi-paned Cupola window, which is attached to Tranquility’s nadir port overlooking the Earth.

• MAY 14: Atlantis launches with the Rassvet Mini-Research Module, which is berthed by Canadarm2 to the nadir port of Zarya’s forward node.

2011

• FEBRUARY 24: Discovery launches with the Permanent Multipurpose Module, Leonardo, which is berthed to Unity’s nadir port. The “ISS Assembly Complete” milestone is achieved.