WIKIARCHIVES.SPACE

The first of four "stand-off" structures is shown installed inside the U.S. Laboratory module for the International Space Station. Installed in August 1997, the stand-offs provide space for electrical connections, data management systems cabling for computers, air conditioning ducts, thermal control tubes and more, all of which support the space station's equipment racks. The aluminum U.S. lab module is 28 feet long and 14 feet in diameter. The lab is scheduled to be launched to the station aboard the Space Shuttle in May 1999 on shuttle mission STS-98. Assembly of the International Space Station, a combined effort of 16 countries led by the U.S., is planned to begin in the summer of 1998.