Leonardo (ISS module)
Leonardo being prepared for flight on STS-105
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| Station statistics | |
|---|---|
| Part of: | International Space Station |
| Launch date: | 21:53:24, February 24, 2011 |
| Launch vehicle: | Space Shuttle/STS-133 |
| Berthed: | March 1, 2011 |
| Mass: | 4,082 kg (8,999 lb) |
| Length: | 6.6 m (22 ft) |
| Diameter: | 4.57 m (15.0 ft) |
| Living volume: | 31 m3 (1,100 cu ft) |
| References: NASA MPLM | |
The Leonardo Permanent Multipurpose Module (PMM) is a module of the International Space Station. It was flown into space aboard the Space Shuttle on STS-133 on 24 February 2011 and installed on 1 March. Leonardo is primarily used for storage of spares, supplies and waste on the ISS, which is currently stored in many different places within the space station. The Leonardo PMM was a Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM) before 2011, but was modified into its current configuration. It was formerly one of three MPLM used for bringing cargo to and from the ISS with the Space Shuttle. The module was named for Italian polymath Leonardo da Vinci.
A European proposal suggested equipping the Donatello MPLM with enhanced micrometeoroid and orbital debris protection and cooling systems and leaving it attached to the ISS after the Space Shuttle fleet is retired. Costs for such MPLM modifications were estimated at $20M to $40M per unit. The MPLM would then be called a Permanent Multipurpose Module (PMM), and it would house spare parts and supplies, allowing longer times between resupply missions. The proposal was rejected by NASA because it would require changes to existing plans and would entail additional costs. Internal discussions continued and managers considered the possibility of STS-133, which at that time was planned to be the last Shuttle flight, leaving its MPLM permanently attached. The United Launch Alliance also published a proposal for a system that could allow additional ISS modules to be launched on an EELV even after the retirement of the Shuttle.
On August 5, 2009 it was announced that STS-133 would indeed leave one MPLM permanently attached to the station. In October 2009, it was confirmed that Leonardo would be the MPLM converted to a PMM. It was launched on February 24, 2011. The PMM was transferred to the station using the Shuttle robotic arm and mated to the nadir (Earth) facing port of Unity.
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