Building the Space Station, Piece by Piece

The Zarya Control Module was launched from Kazakhstan on Nov. 20, 1998. The Zarya carried battery power, fuel storage and docking capability for future space vehicles.

Endeavour dropped off a delivery - in space - in the form of the Unity Node and its two pressurized mating adapters. On Dec. 6, 1998, the STS-88 crew captured the Zarya Control Module and mated it with the Unity Node inside the Shuttle's payload bay.

Discovery delivered logistics and supplies to the International Space Station. A Russian cargo crane was mounted outside the Station for future spacewalking maintenance activities.

The STS-101 crew preparing the International Space Station for the arrival of the Zvezda Service Module.

The Zvezda Service Module was launched from Kazakhstan on July 12, 2000. It hauled living quarters and some life support system functions to the International Space Station.

The STS-106 crew on Atlantis delivered supplies and performed maintenance on the International Space Station.

Arriving aboard Space Shuttle Discovery, the STS-92 crew installed the Z1-Truss.

The International Space Station's first resident crew, Expedition One, launched from Kazakhstan on October 30, 2000.

The STS-97 crew delivered and installed the P6 Truss, which contains the first U.S. solar arrays.

The STS-98 crew installed the new Destiny Laboratory Module.

Space Shuttle Discovery resupplied the Station with the Italian-built Leonardo Multi-Purpose Logistics Module. Expedition

Endeavour delivered racks inside the Raffaello multi-Purpose Logistics Module to the Destiny Laboratory.

The STS-104 crew used the Space Shuttle Atlantis' robotic arm to install the Joint Airlock allowing for spacewalks.

The crew of Discovery performed a crew transfer, bringing Expedition Three to the station and returning Expedition Two to Earth.

A new Docking Compartment and a crane for the Zvezda Service Module.

Atlantis delivered the S0 Truss Structure.

Atlantis delivered the first starboard truss segment, the S1 Truss.

Endeavour delivered the first port truss segment.

STS-114 delivered an External Stowage Platform.

The STS-115 crew delivered and installed the second port truss segment.

The STS-116 crew delivered and installed the third port truss segment, the P5 Truss, and attached it to the second.

June 8, 2007: The STS-117 crew delivered the second and third starboard truss segments as well as a pair of solar arrays.

August 8, 2007: The STS-118 crew delivered and installed the third starboard truss segment.

Oct. 23, 2007: STS-120 delivered the Harmony Node 2 providing attach points for the European Columbus laboratory and the Japanese Kibo laboratory.

Feb. 7, 2008: The STS-122 crew delivered and installed the European Space Agency's Columbus laboratory.

March 11, 2008: Endeavour delivered the first pressurized component of the Japanese Kibo laboratory.

May 31, 2008: The STS-124 crew delivered the Pressurized Module and robotic arm of the Japanese Kibo laboratory.

Nov. 14, 2008: Endeavour delivered supplies and equipment, including additional crew quarters, exercise equipment, equipment for the regenerative life support system and spare hardware.

March 15, 2009: Discovery delivered and installed the International Space Station's final, major U.S. truss segment.

uly 15, 2009: Endeavour set sail on its 23rd mission with the Kibo Japanese Experiment Module Exposed Facility and Experiment Logistics Module Exposed Section.

Aug. 28, 2009: Discovery carried the Leonardo Multi-Purpose Logistics Module containing life support racks and science racks.

Nov. 10, 2009: The Mini-Research Module-2 docked to the station's Zvezda service module Nov. 12. It serves as an additional docking port for Russian vehicles.

Nov. 16, 2009: The STS-129 crew returned International Space Station crew member Nicole Stott to Earth.

Feb. 8, 2010: During the STS-130 mission, Endeavour delivered a pressurized module that will provide room for many of the space station's life support systems.

April 5, 2010: Discovery delivered science racks that were transferred to laboratories on the space station.

May 14, 2010: Atlantis launched on its final planned mission to deliver an Integrated Cargo Carrier and the Russian-built Mini-Research Module-1.