Multipurpose Supply Module

Modules logo

Multi-Purpose Logistics Module ( MPL ) - Three sealed modules, transported one at a time, in the cargo compartment of the shuttles . Designed for transporting goods into orbit , to the International Space Station , and vice versa, with waste materials, to Earth .

Modules built and provided by NASA by the Italian Space Agency (IKA) . They are part of the ISS US segment and are US property. Each of the three cargo modules has its own name chosen by the Italian side, which are named after the famous and talented Italians of the Renaissance: “ Leonardo ”, “ Rafael ” and “ Donatello ” ^[1] . It is officially announced that the modules are named after the great Italian figures of the Renaissance. But since the names of the modules coincide with the names of three of the four teenage mutant ninja turtles, the NASA MPLM Group has developed the corresponding logo for the module program - the teenage mutant ninja turtle in a space suit. Due to the fact that the copyright for the images of turtles belongs to the Mirage Studios, NASA had to transfer the copyright to the studio logo in exchange for the right to use the logo.

Design and purpose

Leonardo multi-purpose supply module in the cargo compartment of the STS-102 Discovery shuttle

Yuri Gidzenko on the background of equipment placed in the MMS.
(photo March 21, 2001 )

The MMC Leonardo module is being prepared for flight on the STS-121 shuttle
(photo May 4, 2006 )

The MMS module - Rafael, docked with the ISS, behind the Canadarm2 manipulator, during the STS-114 expedition
(photo August 3, 2005 )

Each MMS module consists of a sealed enclosure in the form of an equilateral cylinder, on the outside of which there are elements of micro-meteorite protection, a docking system and temperature control. The module maintains normal atmospheric pressure . It is capable of delivering up to 10 tons of cargo into orbit. Designed for 25 flights over 10 years. The sealed module case is made of aluminum and has the following main characteristics: ^[2]

Total length - 6.4 m
The length of the cylindrical part is 4.8 m
Outside diameter - 4.57 m
Inside diameter - ~ 4.2 m
Wall thickness - 3 mm
Module weight (without load) - 4,760 kg
The mass of the module with cargo - 14 061 kg
Internal volume (residential) - 30.1 m ³

The characteristics of the three modules are identical, with one exception: the Donatello module differs from its two brothers in that it is capable of containing equipment that requires power . From the start from the Earth to the docking with the ISS, the module maintains a continuous supply of electricity to the necessary equipment. The Donatello module did not fly into space; according to NASA plans, he was supposed to go into space in the spring of 2009 , as part of the Atlantis STS-128 expedition. However, the Leonardo module set off for flight, and as part of the Discovery expedition STS-128 .

After arrival, the module is removed from the shuttle and docked with the Unity module . After that, the MMS becomes temporarily part of the station and can be used as a habitable compartment for two people. After the transport of the equipment and goods brought in and the loading of waste from the station, the container is again transferred to the cargo compartment of the shuttle and sent to Earth.

Program Logo

Since the names of the modules coincide with the names of three of the four characters of the ninja turtles, the NASA MPLM Group has developed the corresponding logo for the module program - the ninja turtles in a space suit. Judging by the red bandage, this is Rafael . Due to the fact that the copyright for the images of turtles belongs to the Mirage Studios , NASA had to transfer the copyright to the studio logo in exchange for the right to use the logo. ^[3]

Events

Initially, the supply module was developed by Boeing for the American space station Freedom . Then the project was transferred to the Italian Space Agency (IKA) , which already had extensive experience in creating pressurized modules for the SpaceLab shuttle station-laboratory and the Columbus ISS European module , and also created Harmony and Calm modules for the ISS The dome .

In December 1991, a contract was signed with IKA for the supply of three modules, which were called the “Small Pressurized Logistics Module” (MPLM ). Under this contract, in exchange for the construction of the MPLM, IKA received from NASA access to the percentage of resource allocation and working time on the ISS for scientific research. In 1993 , as a result of the revision of the ISS construction plans, the length of the modules was doubled, and the name was changed from “Small Sealed” to “Multipurpose”, while the abbreviation remained the same ( Multi-Purpose Logistics Module - MPLM ).

The development of the modules was entrusted to the Italian company Alenia Aeronautica (formerly Alenia Spazio, Alenia Space). Since 1994, technical control of the work has been carried out by the Marshall Space Flight Center . The first module was manufactured for about two years - from April 1996 to July 1998 . The costs of the Italian side amounted to $ 150 million. On August 2, 1998 , the first Leonardo module was delivered from Italy to Cape Canaveral , and on March 8, 2001, it launched to the ISS in the cargo compartment of the STS-102 Discovery shuttle.

No.	Expedition	shuttle	Launch date	MMS
5A.1	STS-102	Discovery	March 8, 2001	Leonardo
6A	STS-100	Endeavor	April 19, 2001	Raphael
7A.1	STS-105	Discovery	August 10, 2001	Leonardo
UF-1	STS-108	Endeavor	December 5, 2001	Raphael
Uf-2	STS-111	Endeavor	June 5, 2002	Leonardo
Lf 1	STS-114	Discovery	July 26, 2005	Raphael
ULF 1.1	STS-121	Discovery	July 4, 2006	Leonardo
ULF 2	STS-126	Endeavor	November 15, 2008	Leonardo
17A	STS-128	Discovery	August 29, 2009	Leonardo
19A	STS-131	Discovery	April 5, 2010	Leonardo
ULF 5	STS-133	Discovery	February 24, 2011	Leonardo
ULF 7	STS-135	Atlantis	June 28, 2011	Raphael

Sealed Multifunctional Module

One of the multi-purpose supply modules - Leonardo - has been modified and used as a long-term sealed multifunction module ( Permanent Logistics Module, Pressurized Multipurpose Module ). The launch took place in February 2011 at STS-133 .

Notes

↑ Multipurpose Supply Module Archived March 21, 2009 at Wayback Machine , NASA
↑ The Leonardo Permanent Multipurpose Module (Neopr.) Date of treatment July 25, 2011. Archived March 14, 2012.
↑ Multi-Purpose Logistics Module Office (unopened) (unreachable link) . NASA MSFC . Date of treatment June 20, 2008. Archived March 14, 2012.

[msfc-1] Multipurpose Supply Module Archived March 21, 2009 at Wayback Machine , NASA

[2] The Leonardo Permanent Multipurpose Module (Neopr.) Date of treatment July 25, 2011. Archived March 14, 2012.

[mplm-site-3] Multi-Purpose Logistics Module Office (unopened) (unreachable link) . NASA MSFC . Date of treatment June 20, 2008. Archived March 14, 2012.