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A Russian technician works on the forward end of the Service Module shortly after the module completed a pressurization test Sept. 12 1997. The first fully Russian contribution to the International Space Station, the module is planned for a December 1998 launch. The Service Module will provide early power, propulsion, life support, communications and living quarters for the station. It will be the third station element to be launched and join the U.S.-funded, Russian-built Functional Cargo Block, to launch in June 1998 from Russia, and the U.S. connecting module Node 1, to launch n July 1998 aboard the Shuttle Endeavour, in orbit. The port that will dock with the orbiting FGB and Node 1 is visible in the foreground of this view