2007 Module Delivery Doubled Living Space on International Space Station

The space shuttle Discovery launched from Earth on October 23, 2007, carrying a large module to the International Space Station.

The spacecraft carried Harmony, a utility hub that measured 14 feet wide and 24 feet long. This length is comparable to a standard minibus. The module served as a connecting point for the European Space Agency's Columbus laboratory and the Japanese Kibo laboratory.

Before this delivery, the station had not received a new room since 2001. That year, Russia attached the Pirs docking module, which was later removed. The arrival of Harmony ended that six-year gap in construction. It provided the necessary infrastructure for future expansion.

The physical size of the station increased sharply with the installation. Prior to the mission, the complex was approximately the size of a three-bedroom house. With Harmony in place, the volume expanded to resemble a five-bedroom home. This change allowed for more crew quarters and equipment storage.

Astronauts initially attached Harmony to the Unity node during the STS-120 mission. After the shuttle departed, the crew used the station's robotic arm to move the shuttle docking port away from the Destiny module. This maneuver cleared a path for the permanent installation. The crew then moved Harmony to the forward port of the Destiny laboratory.

The module was originally designated as Node 2. It followed Unity, which was known as Node 1. Italy-based Thales Alenia Space built the unit for NASA. Inside, Harmony contains eight payload racks. Four of these hold avionics equipment, while the other four serve as stowage areas or crew quarters. The module also features five common berthing mechanisms for connecting other segments.

NASA selected the name Harmony through a public contest. The hub remains central to the station's layout, linking key laboratories and providing a docking point on its roof for visiting vehicles.