KSC-98pc896

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the Space Station Processing Facility, technicians from Boeing and Alenia Aerospazio (above) as well as KSC workers (below) watch as the end cap is removed from the first Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM) for the International Space Station (ISS). The Italian-built module, named Leonardo, is one of three from Alenia Aerospazio, and will be operated by NASA and supported by ASI, the Italian space agency. The MPLMs will be carried in the payload bay of a Shuttle orbiter, and will provide storage and additional work space for up to two astronauts when docked to the ISS. Leonardo is scheduled to be launched on STS-100 in December 1999. The second MPLM, named Raffaello, is scheduled to be handed over in April 1999. A third module, to be named Donatello, is due to be delivered in October 2000 for launch in January 2001