Harmony Module Doubled ISS Volume by Adding Critical Node
The 2007 delivery expanded the station from three-bedroom to five-bedroom size and enabled future module attachments.
By Ayanda Boateng ·
The International Space Station doubled its living volume on October 23, 2007, when the shuttle Discovery docked the Harmony module to the orbiting outpost.
The delivery expanded the complex from the footprint of a three-bedroom house to that of a five-bedroom house. This physical growth resolved a long stagnation in the station's construction, as no new permanent room had been added since Russia attached the Pirs docking module in 2001.
Harmony functions as a utility hub and a central connection point for the station's international partners. Built by Thales Alenia Space in Italy, the 24-foot-long module connects to the European Space Agency's Columbus laboratory and Japan's Kibo laboratory. It also houses the sleeping quarters for American astronauts.
The module's design allows for further expansion by providing five common berthing mechanisms for other components. Before its installation, the station lacked a central node to accommodate these future attachments. The arrival of Harmony, originally designated Node 2, created the necessary infrastructure for the next phase of growth.
Astronauts initially attached Harmony to the Unity node upon arrival. After the shuttle departed, the crew used the station's robotic arm to move the shuttle docking port. This maneuver cleared the forward port of the Destiny laboratory, allowing Harmony to be permanently berthed beside Destiny.
Inside the module, eight payload racks manage station systems and storage. Four racks contain avionics, while the remaining four serve as stowage or crew quarters. A docking port on the module's roof accommodates visiting cargo vehicles, and the name Harmony was selected through a public contest run by NASA.
