Discovery Shuttle Delivered Harmony Module to ISS

The space shuttle Discovery launched on October 23, 2007, carrying the Harmony module to the International Space Station.

The STS-120 mission transported the 14-foot wide, 24-foot long structure to orbit. This delivery followed a six-year gap in new station additions since Russia attached the Pirs docking module in 2001. Harmony served as the second NASA-led hub, following the earlier installation of Unity, or Node 1. Italian firm Thales Alenia Space constructed the module for NASA. It features five common berthing mechanisms that function as connection points for other equipment. The name Harmony was selected via a public contest administered by NASA.

Astronauts initially attached the module to the Unity node during the shuttle visit. After Discovery departed, the crew used the station's robotic arm to move the shuttle docking port located on the Destiny module. This maneuver cleared the path for Harmony to be secured at its permanent position beside Destiny. The installation increased the station's interior volume from the size of a three-bedroom house to that of a five-bedroom house. The module houses the sleeping quarters for American astronauts and contains eight payload racks. Four of these racks hold avionics, while the remaining four provide storage or living space.

Harmony now serves as the central link for international laboratories. The European Space Agency's Columbus module connects to its starboard side. Japan's Kibo laboratory attaches to its port side. Some ports on the module have accommodated visiting cargo ships. A docking port on the roof allows other vehicles to park there. The two-week duration of the STS-120 flight concluded with the module fully integrated into the station's forward port.