ISS Assembly Sequence

There are thirty-one proposed parts to the International Space Station as it stands now, but of course budgetary concerns, national politics and the needs of the ISS itself could shorten or expand that list as time goes on. The current mission schedule calls for the 31st and final piece, the EXPRESS Logistics Carriers 5, 1, to be assembled to the ISS in 2010 in what could be the last flight of the Space Shuttle program, which is scheduled to be retired in the same year.

Zarya was the first component of the ISS, launched by the Russian space program in 1998, providing power and propulsion and guidance to the soon to be formed International Space Station. It also provided storage, which is going to be its primary function as the ISS grows and new components usurp the other functions of Zarya.

The Unity Node came next, the United State’s first contribution. The Unity served as a connection hub for future modules, the first of three eventually planned for the ISS. At the end of the same year Zarya was put in orbit the first connection was made between the Russian and US modules, which served the additional purpose of demonstrating the cooperation possible by the two nations that first competed against each other to win the “Space Race.”

Other components were soon to come, including Truss components to aid in the structural support of the ISS, some of which came equipped with extra functions and equipment, such as a solar array. Airlocks, docking compartments and robotic arms soon followed, contributions from many nations eager to be a part of the ISS.

While some 16 nations, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Japan, Russia and the United States, have contributed to the technology and construction used in created the various parts of the International Space Station, Russina and the US have borne the responsibility of getting the parts to the ISS. Out of the proposed thirty missions to complete the ISS, four will have utilized Russian rockets while the rest have been borne by US Space Shuttles.

Past Missions

The following components have already been launched and, in most cases, attached to the ISS:

• Zarya
• Unity Node 1
• Zvezda Service Module
• Z1 Truss
• P6 Truss with a solar Array
• Destiny Laboratory
• External Stowage Platform
• Canadarm2 Robotic Arm
• Quest Joint Airlock
• Pirs Docking Compartment & Airlock
• S0 Truss
• Mobile Base System for Canadarm
• S1 Truss
• P1 Truss
• ESP 2
• P3/P4 Truss with Solar Array
• P5 Truss
• S3/S4 Truss with Solar Array
• S5 Truss
• External Stowage Platform 3
• Harmony Node 2

  Future Missions

  The following missions will run from January 2008 through 2010 to complete the International Space Station. These are from NASA’s planned mission list, but any number of complications could arise to change the dates or to remove or add missions to the ISS Assembly Sequence:

  • Columbus Laboratory
  • Japanese Logistics Module
  • Dextre Robotic Hand
  • Japanese Pressurized Module
  • JEM Robotic Arm
  • S6 Truss with Solar Array
  • Multipurpose Laboratory Module with European Robotic Japanese Exposed Facility
  • Docking Cargo Module
  • Node 3 and Cupola
  • EXPRESS Logistics Carriers 5, 1

  Final Thoughts

  While efforts such as the new NASA Constellation Program may seem to some like the space community is moving away from localized space, the truth is setting up lunar outposts and reaching for Mars will serve to underline the value of the ISS, not undermine it.

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