Shuttle Discovery Docked Harmony Node in 2007

Space shuttle Discovery launched on October 23, 2007, carrying the Harmony module to the International Space Station. This event, part of the STS-120 mission, marked a major expansion of the orbiting outpost.

Harmony is a utility hub measuring 14 feet wide and 24 feet long, comparable in size to a minibus. It serves as a connection point for the European Space Agency's Columbus module and Japan's Kibo laboratory. The module also houses the sleeping quarters for American astronauts.

The addition increased the station's total volume from the size of a three-bedroom house to that of a five-bedroom house. Before this delivery, the newest room added to the station was Russia's Pirs docking module, which arrived in 2001 and has since been discarded.

Astronauts initially attached Harmony temporarily to the Unity node. After the shuttle departed, the crew used the station's robotic arm to move the shuttle docking port at the Destiny module. This maneuver cleared the way for Harmony to be permanently berthed beside Destiny.

Harmony, originally designated Node 2, was built for NASA by Italy-based Thales Alenia Space. It contains five common berthing mechanisms that connect other modules. The name was selected through a public contest run by NASA.

Following the roughly two-week STS-120 flight, Harmony was moved to the forward port of the Destiny laboratory. From this position, it links to the Columbus lab on the starboard side and the Kibo lab on the port side. Visiting cargo ships have used some of its ports, and a roof docking port allows other vehicles to park there.

Inside the module, eight payload racks are installed. Four racks hold avionics equipment, while the remaining four are used for stowage or crew quarters. NASA astronaut sleeping areas are located within the module.