KSC-2010-3455

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Technicians in the Space Station Processing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida begin to hoist and temporarily install the Common Berthing Mechanism, or CBM, to the Permanent Multipurpose Module, or PMM. The CBM is a test fixture that simulates the joining of the International Space Station with a pressurized element. The Leonardo multi-purpose logistics module, or MPLM, is being modified to become the PMM that will carry supplies and critical spare parts to the station aboard space shuttle Discovery’s STS-133 mission. Discovery will leave the module behind so it can be used for microgravity experiments in fluid physics, materials science, biology and biotechnology. Photo credit: NASA_Jim Grossmann