The next Shuttle launch is STS-102, which will carry the Leonardo Multi Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM), built by Alenia Spazio (Torino). The MPLM is a descendant of the Spacelab long modules. Also carried is a Spacehab/Energia unpressurized Integrated Cargo Carrier with LCA/MTSAS-A, RU, and PFCS (An ammonia servicing system has reportedly been omitted from the cargo). A sidewall adapter beam with two GAS canisters (G-783 and WSVFM) is also on board. WSVFM measures vibration during launch. Another adapter beam, probably at the rear of the payload bay, carries SEM-9. SEM-9 and G-783 contain high school microgravity experiments. I'm guessing that the ICC is probably in Bay 5 with the MPLM behind it in Bay 8-12, and SEM-9 the adapter beam in bay 13, but NASA does not seem to have released any photos or diagrams of the overall STS-102 cargo bay. The robot arm carried on Discovery is RMS 301, according to Bill Harwood's info on the spaceflightnow.com site. Discovery will dock at PMA-2 on Destiny. The LCA (Lab Cradle Assembly, apparently the same thing as MTSAS-A, Module Truss Structure Attachment System) will be attached to Destiny's +Z side during an EVA. It will be used on the next mission to temporarily place a Spacelab pallet on Destiny during installation of the Station's robot arm. Later, it will be the site for the main Station truss, beginning with segment S0. The PMA-3, currently on Unity at the -Z nadir position, will be moved to the port position to make room for Leonardo. An external stowage platform will be attached to Destiny and the External Stowage Platform and the PFCS Pump Flow Control System will be added to the port aft trunnion on Destiny. A rigid umbilical (RU) will be connected to the PDGF grapple fixture on Destiny to support the Station's future robot arm. Leonardo will be docked to Unity at -Z for a while so that its cargo can be transferred to the station easily; it will then be returned to the payload bay and brought back down. STS-102 cargo: The JSR guess Est. Mass (kg) Bay 1-2: Orbiter Docking System 1800 and External Airlock 3 EMU spacesuits (S/N unknown) 360? Bay 4 Port?: Adapter Beam with 218? WSVFM and G-782 Bay 5?: Integrated Cargo Carrier (ICC) 1282 with LCA (Lab Cradle Assembly) 83 (MTSAS-A) ESP (External Stowage Plat.)+ PFCS (Pump Flow Control System) 210 RU (Rigid Umbilical) 28 Bay 8-12?: Leonardo Module (MPLM-1) 4760 MPLM racks and cargo 5362 Bay 13S? Adapter Beam with SEM-09 100? Unknown Adapter Beam with 100? Assembly Power Converter Units? Sill: Canadarm RMS 301 410 ------ Total payload bay cargo 14713 kg Leonardo carries 16 'racks' of equipment, including the Human Research Facility Rack (Rack 13) which will allow the astronauts to do extensive medical experiments, the CHeCS Rack (28), the DDCU-1 and DDCU-2 racks (7 and 9), the Avionics-3 (Rack 6), and the MSS Avionics/Lab (Rack 11) and Avionics/Cupola (Rack 12) racks for a total of 7 equipment racks to be installed on Destiny. Three Resupply Stowage Racks (50, 51, 52) and four Resupply Stowage Platforms (180, 181, 182 and 188) will remain installed on Leonardo, with their equipment bags being individually transferred to the Station. System Racks 2, 3, 4, 5 and 8 are already on Destiny together with stowage racks 110 through 117. Each rack has a mass of around 150-300 kg. The STS-102 crew are Jim Wetherbee (commander), James Kelly (pilot), Andrew Thomas and Paul Richards (mission specialists). In addition, Discovery will carry the Expedition Two crew of Yuriy Usachyov, James Voss and Susan Helms to the Station and bring back the Expedition One crew. Current Shuttle Processing Status _________________________________ Orbiters Location Mission Launch Due OV-102 Columbia Dyess AFB STS-107? Late 2001? OV-103 Discovery LC39B STS-102 2001 Mar 8 ISS 5A.1 OV-104 Atlantis Altus AFB STS-98 2001 Feb 7 ISS 5A OV-105 Endeavour OPF Bay 2 STS-100 2001 Apr 19 ISS 6A LC39B: Mobile Launch Platform 3 (MLP-3) Solid Rocket Boosters BI-106/RSRM-78 External Tank ET-107 Orbiter OV-103 (Discovery)