Nauka (ISS Module)

Nauka (ISS Module)

Nauka (Russian: Нау́ка; lit. Science), also known as the Multipurpose Laboratory Module (MLM), (Russian: Многофункциональный лабораторный модуль, or МЛМ), will be a component of the International Space Station (ISS), funded by the Russian Federal Space Agency. In the original ISS plans, Nauka was to use the location of the Docking and Stowage Module. Later, the DSM was moved to Zarya's nadir port and named Rassvet. Currently, Nauka is scheduled to dock at Zvezda's nadir port, and replace Pirs. In earlier plans, the now-cancelled complex of the Universal Docking Module and the two Russian Research Modules were attached there; Nauka has replaced them. Nauka was initially planned to launch in 2007, but the launch has since been repeatedly delayed; it is currently scheduled for 2014.