Mini-Pressurised Logistics Module. Cutaway drawing of the Italian Mini-Pressurized Logistics Module.
Credit: NASA via Marcus Lindroos
American manned space station module. Study 1992.
As NASA's Space Station budget received further cutbacks, the agency was forced to consider more and more hardware paid for by foreign space agencies although Congress and private industry were opposed to it. In 1992, Italy's Alenia Spazio announced they would build a small Mini-Pressurized Logistics Module (MPLM) for the Space Shuttle, enabling it to carry 4500 kg of cargo to the Space Station. The MPLM might also be transformed into a small life sciences laboratory. Boeing had previously wanted to build the MPLM, but NASA could not afford to pay for it. Instead, the Italian space agency, ASI, would now finance the $400-million project in return for crew time and experiments on the Space Station.
Article by Marcus Lindroos
More... - Chronology...
International Space Station American manned space station. Development from 1994. Assembled in orbit from 1998, with completion expected 2010. In 1987-1993 the Russians successfully assembled and operated the 124-metric ton Mir station. More...
US Space Stations Wernher von Braun brought Noordung's rotating station design with him from Europe. This he popularized in the early 1950's in selling manned space flight to the American public. By the late 1950's von Braun's team favoured the spent-stage concept - which eventually flew as Skylab. By the mid-1960's, NASA was concentrating on modular, purpose-built, zero-G stations. These eventually flew as the International Space Station. More...
Associated Manufacturers and Agencies
ESA European agency overseeing development of rockets and spacecraft. European Space Agency, Europe. More...
Alenia Italian manufacturer of rockets and spacecraft. Alenia Spazio, Italy. More...
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