STS-100 PAYLOADS
International Space Station Assembly Flight 6A

Canadian robotic arm is moved to the payload canister for STS-100.

Cargo Bay Payloads:

Space Station Remote Manipulator System
The Space Station Remote Manipulator System, or SSRMS, is the next generation Canadarm and is a bigger, better, smarter version of the space shuttle's robotic arm and was built by the Canadian Space Agency. The new arm, which is also referred to as Canadarm2, is 17.6 meters (57.7 feet) long when fully extended and has seven motorized joints. This arm is capable of handling large payloads and assisting with docking the space shuttle. The SSRMS is self-relocatable with a Latching End Effector, so it can be attached to complementary ports spread throughout the station's exterior surfaces.

Raffaello Multi-Purpose Logistics Module
The Raffaello Multi-Purpose Logistics Module, which was built by the Italian Space Agency (ASI), is the second of three such pressurized modules that will serve as the International Space Station's "moving vans", carrying laboratory racks filled with equipment, experiments and supplies to and from the station aboard the space shuttle.

The unpiloted, reusable logistics modules function as both a cargo carrier and a space station module when they are flown. Mounted in the space shuttle's cargo bay for launch and landing, they are berthed to the station using the shuttle's robotic arm after the shuttle has docked.

Of the 16 racks the module can carry, STS-100 will bring four resupply stowage racks, four resupply stowage platforms and two scientific experiment racks to the station.

The two scientific experiment racks, EXPRESS Rack No. 1 and EXPRESS Rack No. 2, will add additional science capability to the station. EXPRESS stands for EXpedite the PRocessing of Experiments to the Space Station. The EXPRESS Rack concept was developed to support small payloads on orbit with a shortened ground integration period. EXPRESS Rack No. 2 is the first station rack equipped with the Active Rack Isolation System, or ARIS, which is designed to isolate the experiment within the rack from vibrations occurring in the rest of the space station.

The four Resupply Stowage Racks and four Resupply Stowage Platforms contain equipment required for activation of the two EXPRESS racks and the ARIS system, components to augment existing station systems, spare parts for systems already on the station, and food and supplies to support the crew.

After Raffaello is unloaded, used equipment and trash will be transferred to it from the station for return to Earth inside Endeavour’s payload bay.

Ultra High Frequency Antenna
The Ultra High Frequency, or UHF, antenna will be attached to the station's U.S. Laboratory Destiny by space walking Astronauts Chris Hadfield and Scott Parazynski during the mission's first space walk.

The antenna, on a 1.2-meter (4-foot) boom, is part of the UHF Communications Subsystem of the station. It will interact with systems already aboard the station, including the Space-to-Space Station Radio transceivers. A second antenna will be delivered on STS-115/11A next year.

Once in operation the UHF subsystem will be used for space-to-space communication -- voice, commands and telemetry for the space station. It can support up to five users on the same frequency and provides:

• Two-way voice communications between the station and space walkers, the station and orbiter and between the Mission Control Center in Houston and space walkers.
• Orbiter commanding of critical station functions such as going to free drift during undocking operations. Commands are encrypted for security. That capability is to be used during Endeavour's undocking on STS-100.
• ISS transmission of critical telemetry to the orbiter during undocking operations, again beginning with STS-100 undocking.