Leonardo (ISS module): Difference between revisions

{{short description|PartItalian module of the internationalInternational spaceSpace stationStation}}

The '''''Leonardo''''', also known as the '''Permanent Multipurpose Module''' ('''PMM''') is a module of the [[International Space Station]]. It was flown into space aboard the [[Space Shuttle Discovery|Space Shuttle ''Discovery'']] 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 was until then stored in many different places within the space station. It is also the personal hygiene area for the astronauts who live in the [[US Orbital Segment]]. The ''Leonardo'' PMM was a [[Multi-Purpose Logistics Module]] (MPLM) before 2011, butthen was modified into its current configuration. It was formerly one of two 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 iswas 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.<ref name="PLM">{{cite news|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2008/04/02/222622/nasa-rejects-european-iss-logistics-project.html|title=NASA rejects European ISS logistics project |publisher=Flightglobal.com|last=Coppinger|first=Rob|date=2008-04-02|accessdateaccess-date=2009-01-24}}</ref> Internal discussions continued<ref name="PLM2">{{cite news|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/hyperbola/2008/06/nasa-mplm-may-stay-on-orbit-do.html|title=NASA: MPLM may stay on orbit, docking rules to change and launch-on-need re-designated?|publisher=Flightglobal.com|last=Coppinger|first=Rob|date=2008-06-24|accessdateaccess-date=2009-02-27}}</ref> 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.<ref name="PLM3">{{cite news|url=http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2009/05/iss-considering-permanent-attachment-mplm-advancement-sts-134|title=ISS considering the permanent attachment MPLM, advancement of STS-134|publisher=NASAspaceflight.com|last=Bergin|first=Chris|date=2009-05-05}}</ref> The [[United Launch Alliance]] also published a proposal for a system that could allow additional ISS modules to be launched on an [[Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle|EELV]] even after the retirement of the Shuttle.<ref name="PLM4">{{cite news|url=http://www.ulalaunch.com/uploads/docs/Published_Papers/EELV_ISS/AIAASpace2008PaperMarkAFoster.pdf|title=System-of-Space Systems Architecture Utilizing Existing Space Assets to Complete and Re-Supply the International Space Station|last=Foster|first=Mark|access-date=2014-07-03|archive-date=2017-08-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170809010007/http://www.ulalaunch.com/uploads/docs/Published_Papers/EELV_ISS/AIAASpace2008PaperMarkAFoster.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On August 5, 2009 it was announced that STS-133 would indeed leave one MPLM permanently attached to the station.<ref name="PLM5">{{cite news|url=http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2009/08/sts-133-five-crew-one-eva-mission-leave-mpm-on-iss|title=STS-133 refined to a five crew, one EVA mission – will leave MPLM on ISS|publisher=NASAspaceflight.com|last=Gebhardt|first=Chris|date=2009-08-05}}</ref> In October 2009, it was confirmed that ''Leonardo'' would be the MPLM converted to a PMM.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=17437.msg483604#msg483604|publisher=NASASpaceflight.com|accessdateaccess-date=October 14, 2009|title=Shuttle Q&A Part 5|date=September 27, 2009}}</ref> It was launched on February 24, 2011. The PMM was transferred to the station using the [[Canadarm|Shuttle robotic arm]] and mated to the [[nadir]] (Earth) facing port of [[Unity (ISS module)|''Unity'']]. "Unity"

On May 27, 2015, at 13:08 UTC, the PMM was relocated from the nadir port of the ''Unity'' module to the forward-facing port of the [[Tranquility (ISS module)|''Tranquility'']] module. This was done in order to allow ''Unity''<nowiki/>'s nadir port to serve as a berthing port for resupply craft, which in turn frees up ''[[Harmony (ISS module)|Harmony]]''{{'}}s zenith port for future U.S. [[Commercial Crew Development]] spacecraft.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Module Relocated Prepping Station for Commercial Crew {{!}} Space Station|url = http://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2015/05/27/module-relocated-prepping-station-for-commercial-crew/|website = blogs.nasa.gov|accessdateaccess-date = 2015-05-27}}</ref>

[[File:STS 133 PMM Leonardo.jpg|right|thumb|PMM ''Leonardo'' at the [[Space Station Processing Facility]] (SSPF).]]

In addition, the [[Multi-layer insulation]] (MLI) blankets from the never-flown ''Donatello'' MPLM were cannibalized for use on ''Leonardo''. The blankets were removed and returned to Italy where they were reinforced with Nextel/[[Kevlar]] to provide better protection against micro-meteorites. The upgraded blankets were then installed on about two-thirds of ''Leonardo''{{'}}s surface area.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts133/101007payloads/|title=Spaceflight Now &#124; STS-133 Shuttle Report &#124; Roomy addition for space station ready to launch}}</ref>

The ''Leonardo'' PMM mass is {{convert|21,817|lb}}.<ref name="press kit">{{Cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/491387main_STS-133%20Press%20Kit.pdf|title=STS-133 Press Kit|accessdateaccess-date=4 December 2011|publisher=NASA}}</ref>

The '''''Leonardo'' MPLM''', also known as '''MPLM-1''', was one of three [[Multi-Purpose Logistics Module]]s which were operated by [[NASA]] to transfer supplies and equipment to and from the [[International Space Station]]. ''Leonardo'' was used for eight of the twelve MPLM flights to the space station, with ''[[Raffaello MPLM|Raffaello]]'' being used for the other four. It was the first MPLM to be launched, making its first flight in March 2001, aboard {{OV|103}} on [[STS-102]]. Following its last flight as an MPLM, on [[STS-131]] in April 2010, it underwent conversion to become the '''Permanent Multipurpose Module''', and was launched aboard Discovery on [[STS-133]] to become a permanent component of the station.

! Mission !! Orbiter !! Launch (UTC)<ref name="JSR">{{cite web|last=McDowell|first=Jonathan|title=Launch Log|url=http://planet4589.org/space/log/launchlog.txt|publisher=Jonathan's Space Page|accessdateaccess-date=17 May 2010}}</ref> !! Landing (UTC) !! Remarks

| [[STS-133]] || ''Discovery'' || 24 February 2011 || N/A || ''Leonardo'' was left on-station to become the PMM.

* [[List of Spacespacewalks Shuttle missions2000–2014]] <!-- why -->

* [https://wwwweb.webcitationarchive.org/67bqrZ4RA?url=web/20120309050312/http://www.thalesaleniaspace-issmodules.com/pmm Thales Alenia Space's PMM page]