A final U.S. module was attached to the International Space Station Tuesday, an upgraded supply transfer compartment that will serve as a permanent storage closet to give station crews more room.

The Permanent Multipurpose Module, or PMM, is attached to the International Space Station as the shuttle-station complex approached the northwest coast of Africa. Credit: NASA TV

A few minutes after the Leonardo Permanent Multipurpose Module, or PMM, was attached to the central Unity module, the shuttle-station complex sailed over Italy where the new module was built by Thales Alenia Space.

"Leonardo's looking very, very happy to be in his, or her, new home," station flight engineer Catherine Coleman radioed.

"I think we should say kudos to both programs, getting the last scheduled U.S. contribution to the ... station," said Discovery astronaut Michael Barratt, a station veteran. "It's a big day for us."

The Permanent Multipurpose Module was pulled from shuttle Discovery's cargo bay starting at 8:46 a.m. EST (GMT-5). Barratt and Nicole Stott, operating the space station's robot arm, then maneuvered the module into position for attachment to Unity's Earth-facing port.

After a careful alignment, four latches pulled the 27,160-pound module snugly into place and 16 motorized bolts then were driven to firmly lock it to the station. The process was completed at 10:05 a.m.

Overnight, flight controllers tested the common berthing mechanism to make sure the big bolts would be ready for operation.

"They're each connected to a motor and they're rated to 19,000 pounds of force for each one of those," said space station Flight Director Chris Edelen. "So they're really strong. The module won't go anywhere."

Installing the PMM and preparing it for hatch opening will take most of the crew's day.

"It's a rather laborious process to get any kind of a module installed with the common berthing mechanism," Edelen said. "In addition to the task of robotically removing it from the shuttle's payload bay and installing it on the station, there's also the work to drive all those 16 bolts to get them to the right loaded force so that they securely hold the module in place, have a nice airtight seal, and then the crew has to open the hatches, perform the vestibule outfitting, the data, power and airflow connectors.

"And then finally, they have to remove some of the controllers that drive those bolts, they have to get those out of the way so there's a clear pathway. So it's quite a bit of work."

If all goes well, the PMM's hatch will be opened late today for a quick look inside.

The PMM originally was built to carry supplies and equipment to the International Space Station aboard the space shuttle and then to return to Earth with trash and no-longer-needed equipment. With the shuttle fleet scheduled for retirement after just two more missions, NASA upgraded the Leonardo MPLM for permanent attachment to the station.

The module measures 21 feet long and 15 feet wide, providing an additional 2,472 cubic feet of useable pressurized volume. While it will have power, it is intended for storage only and does not feature any crew amenities.

"This is a great example of getting your money's worth out of a product," Edelen said. "The Italians built Leonardo and the other multi-purpose logistics modules and this one has flown seven times before. ... In this case, it's going to stay up permanently.

"Obviously, with the shuttle's retirement we won't be needing logistics modules any more. Where PMM will come in handy, it'll be storage space. Right now, it's chock full of supplies, food, science gear, spare parts and Robonaut. It will be used to store all those things as well as a lot of other equipment that's... coming up on other vehicles. It'll give us extra storage space."

NASA managers decided Monday to extend Discovery's stay at the station by one day to give the crew more time to unload the PMM and configure it for orbital operations. The combined crews will remove packing materials and other launch-related components and move them to the Japanese HTV cargo ship before it undocks late this month and burns up in the atmosphere.

"A lot of the equipment in the (PMM) was packed in foam as you would expect," Edelen said. "So a lot of the foam, they're going to take that out. Now is a great time to get rid of that foam, we don't want to store that on station, it'll just contribute to our lack of stowage space that we're already battling. So that foam is going to be moved over to the Japanese HTV transfer vehicle.

"We want to get rid of any trash or foam, anything that's no longer needed in the PMM. So they'll spend a good day unpacking everything, shipping the foam over to the HTV and just tidying up the PMM."

While the PMM attachment work is going on, astronauts Alvin Drew and Stephen Bowen will check their equipment and review their plans for a second spacewalk Wednesday. They will spend the night in the Quest airlock module at a reduced pressure to help purge nitrogen form their bloodstreams, a standard protocol to help prevent the bends.

Russian crew members plan to work on the Vozdukh carbon dioxide removal system, which has been operating intermittently in recent days. Overnight, U.S. flight controllers ran into problems with NASA's CO2 removal system when an internal heater shut down. A backup was activated and the system currently is operating at near-normal capacity.

UPDATED: The official embroidered crew patch for shuttle Discovery's final flight is available in our store. Free shipping to U.S. addresses!
U.S. SHOPPERS | WORLDWIDE

Additional coverage for subscribers:
VIDEO: TUESDAY'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY
VIDEO: 'NO GO' FOR SPACE STATION PHOTO OP PLAY
VIDEO: PERMANENT MULTIPURPOSE MODULE ATTACHED PLAY
VIDEO: ROBOT ARM MANEUVERS MODULE TO ITS NEW HOME PLAY
VIDEO: STATION'S NEW MODULE UNBERTHED FROM SHUTTLE PLAY
VIDEO: ROBOT ARM GRAPPLES MODULE ABOARD DISCOVERY PLAY
VIDEO: ORBITAL SUNRISE OVER PMM BEFORE LEAVING SHUTTLE PLAY
VIDEO: TUESDAY MORNING FLIGHT DIRECTOR INTERVIEW PLAY
VIDEO: ANIMATED EXPLANATION OF NEW MODULE PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: NARRATED PREVIEW OF MODULE INSTALLATION PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: LOOKING OUT THE PILOT'S WINDOW PLAY

VIDEO: FLIGHT DAY 5 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY
VIDEO: MONDAY'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY
VIDEO: DISCOVERY'S FLIGHT EXTENDED ONE DAY PLAY
VIDEO: EVA NO. 1 CONCLUDES PLAY
VIDEO: JAPANESE "MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE" CAPTURES SPACE PLAY
VIDEO: FAILED PUMP COVERED UP WITH THERMAL BLANKET PLAY
VIDEO: GRAPPLE FIXTURE MOVED FROM PUMP TO OTHER SPARE PLAY
VIDEO: AMMONIA VENTING TOOLS ATTACHED TO FAILED PUMP PLAY
VIDEO: BOLTS ENGAGED TO HOLD OLD PUMP IN STORAGE BOX PLAY
VIDEO: FAILED PUMP MODULE FINALLY PUT INTO ENCLOSURE PLAY
VIDEO: ROBOT ARM SWINGS STEVE BOWEN AROUND THE STATION PLAY
VIDEO: SPACEWALKER HOPS ABOARD STATION'S ROBOT ARM PLAY
VIDEO: MONDAY MORNING FLIGHT DIRECTOR INTERVIEW PLAY
VIDEO: NARRATED PREVIEW OF SPACEWALK NO. 1 PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: FLIGHT DAY 4 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY
VIDEO: CREW'S HOME MOVIES FROM FLIGHT DAY 4 PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: WX CHANNEL, BOSTON, ATLANTA, TAMPA INTERVIEWS PLAY
VIDEO: MISSION MANAGEMENT TEAM UPDATE PLAY
VIDEO: SUNDAY'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY
VIDEO: SUNDAY MORNING FLIGHT DIRECTOR INTERVIEW PLAY

VIDEO: FLIGHT DAY 3 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY
VIDEO: EXPRESS LOGISTICS CARRIER NO. 4 INSTALLED PLAY
VIDEO: SPACE STATION ARM INCH-WORMS TO NEW BASE PLAY
VIDEO: PAYLOAD HANDED FROM STATION ARM TO SHUTTLE ARM PLAY
VIDEO: SPARE PARTS PLATFORM HOISTED FROM SHUTTLE PLAY
VIDEO: STATION ROBOT ARM GRAPPLES ELC 4 PALLET PLAY
VIDEO: SPACEWALKING SUITS MOVED INTO AIRLOCK PLAY

VIDEO: SATURDAY'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY
VIDEO: SHUTTLE CREW WELCOMED ABOARD STATION PLAY
VIDEO: DOCKING OF SHUTTLE TO STATION AS SEEN LIVE PLAY
VIDEO: SHUTTLE ARCS OUT IN FRONT OF SPACE STATION PLAY
VIDEO: DISCOVERY PERFORMS THE 360-DEGREE BACKFLIP PLAY
VIDEO: BEAUTIFUL VIEWS OF SHUTTLE DURING RENDEZVOUS PLAY
VIDEO: SPACECRAFT COMMANDERS TALK FROM AFAR PLAY
VIDEO: TERMINAL INITIATION BURN SEEN FROM STATION PLAY
VIDEO: TIME-LAPSE OF DISCOVERY MANEUVERING PLAY
VIDEO: ANIMATED EXPLANATION OF ELC NO. 4 INSTALL PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: NARRATED PREVIEW OF THE DOCKING PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: GUIDED TOUR OF SHUTTLE'S PAYLOAD BAY PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: FLIGHT DAY 2 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY
VIDEO: FRIDAY'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY
VIDEO: NARRATED PREVIEW OF FLIGHT DAY 2 ACTIVITIES PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: FLIGHT DAY 1 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY
VIDEO: PAYLOAD BAY DOORS OPENED IN SPACE PLAY

VIDEO: THE FULL STS-133 LAUNCH EXPERIENCE PLAY
VIDEO: SHUTTLE DISCOVERY BLASTS OFF! PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: GO INSIDE MISSION CONTROL DURING LAUNCH PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: EXTERNAL TANK CAMERA: LIFTOFF TO ORBIT PLAY
VIDEO: AERIAL VIEWS AROUND THE CAPE PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: VAB ROOF PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: PRESS SITE PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: PAD PERIMETER PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: BEACH TRACKER PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: PAD CAMERA 070 PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: PAD CAMERA 071 PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: UCS-23 TRACKER PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: PLAYALINDA BEACH PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: PAD FRONT CAMERA PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: WEST TOWER CAMERA PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS LEAVE CREW QUARTERS PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: CREW FINISHES GETTING SUITED UP PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: LOOK BACK AT THE LAUNCH DELAYS PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: NARRATED REVIEW OF SHUTTLE'S PREPARATIONS PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: NARRATED REVIEW OF PAYLOADS' PREPARATIONS PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: TIME-LAPSE OF PAD GANTRY ROLLBACK PLAY
VIDEO: LAUNCH PAD GANTRY ROLLED BACK PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: INSIDE CONTROL ROOM WHEN COUNT STARTED PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: UNIQUE VIEWS OF SHUTTLE ON THE PAD PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: THE PRE-LAUNCH NEWS CONFERENCE PLAY
VIDEO: DISCOVERY'S COUNTDOWN IS UNDERWAY PLAY
VIDEO: LAUNCH COUNTDOWN PREVIEW AND WEATHER FORECAST PLAY
VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS ARRIVE AT LAUNCH SITE AGAIN PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: DISCOVERY CLEARED FOR LAUNCH ON FEB. 24 PLAY

VIDEO: STEVE BOWEN BEGINS CREW TRAINING PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: SUN RISES OVER SPACEPORT AFTER ROLLOUT PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: SHUTTLE ARRIVES ATOP LAUNCH PAD 39A AGAIN PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: CROWDS CHEER ON DISCOVERY'S ROLLOUT PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: DISCOVERY RE-EMERGES FROM THE VAB PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: LAUNCH TEAM PRACTICES PROCEDURES PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: FRESH FOAM APPLIED TO EXTERNAL TANK PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: ROOT CAUSE OF SHUTTLE TANK CRACKS FOUND PLAY

VIDEO: REPAIRS AND STRENGTHENING TO TANK PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: DIGITAL X-RAY INSPECTIONS IN THE VAB PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: WORK UNDERWAY TO REMOVE FOAM AND SENSORS PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: SETTING UP ACCESS PLATFORMS AROUND TANK PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: SHUTTLE ROLLED BACK TO ASSEMBLY BUILDING PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: DISCOVERY DEPARTS LAUNCH PAD 39A PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: LUNAR ECLIPSE OVER DISCOVERY PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE FUELING TEST PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: RECAP OF THE FUELING EXERCISE PLAY
VIDEO: FUELING TEST COUNTDOWN UPDATE PLAY
VIDEO: COMMENTS FROM SHUTTLE LAUNCH DIRECTOR PLAY
VIDEO: GROUND UMBILICAL CARRIER PLATE CHECKED PLAY
VIDEO: INFO ON EXTERNAL TANK INSTRUMENTATION PLAY
VIDEO: DETAILED INFORMATION ON SPECIAL FUELING TEST PLAY

VIDEO: SHUTTLE DISCOVERY'S LAUNCH DELAYED TO FEBRUARY PLAY

VIDEO: FINAL PREPS FOR INSTRUMENTED TEST PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: STRAIN GAUGES ATTACHED TO TANK PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: BACKSCATTER INSPECTIONS OF TANK MIDSECTION PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: INSTALLING DOUBLERS OVER STRINGERS PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: GASEOUS HYDROGEN VENT ARM RETURNED PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: DOUBLERS TO BEEF UP CRACKED BEAMS PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: HYDROGEN FITTING IS REINSTALLED PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: OPENING UP TANK'S ENTRANCE DOOR PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: GUCP DETACHED AND SEALS REMOVED PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: BROKEN FOAM REMOVED FROM THE TANK PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: VENT ARM LETS GO FROM LEAKY GUCP PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: DISCOVERY AWAITS REPAIRS TO TANK PROBLEMS PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: INFORMATIVE DESCRIPTION OF TANK CRACK PROBLEM PLAY
VIDEO: DISCOVERY'S LAUNCH DELAYED TO MID-DECEMBER PLAY

VIDEO: GASEOUS HYDROGEN VENT ARM DETACHED FROM SHUTTLE PLAY

VIDEO: STS-133 MISSION PREVIEW MOVIE PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: SHUTTLE DISCOVERY CREW BIOGRAPHIES PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: ISS EXPEDITION 25-26 PREVIEW MOVIE PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: SPACE STATION CREW BIOGRAPHIES PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: POST-SCRUB NEWS BRIEFING ON LEAK PLAY
VIDEO: GASEOUS HYDROGEN LEAK SCRUBS LAUNCH PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: BAD WEATHER DELAYS DISCOVERY LAUNCH PLAY
VIDEO: ELECTRICAL ISSUE NO LONGER A CONCERN FOR DISCOVERY PLAY
VIDEO: LAUNCH POSTPONED BY ELECTRICAL CONCERN PLAY
VIDEO: TUESDAY MORNING'S COUNTDOWN STATUS CHECK PLAY
VIDEO: DISCOVERY'S PRE-LAUNCH NEWS CONFERENCE PLAY
VIDEO: COUNTDOWN PREVIEW BRIEFING AND WEATHER FORECAST PLAY
VIDEO: ANOTHER 24-HOUR DELAY ORDERED TO FINISH REPAIRS PLAY
VIDEO: LAUNCH DELAYED 24 HOURS BY LEAK REPAIRS PLAY

VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS ARRIVE FOR LAUNCH PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: FLIGHT READINESS REVIEW SETS LAUNCH DATE PLAY

VIDEO: SHUTTLE AND STATION PROGRAM BRIEFING PLAY
VIDEO: THE STS-133 MISSION OVERVIEW PRESENTATIONS PLAY
VIDEO: PREVIEW BRIEFING ON MISSION'S SPACEWALKS PLAY
VIDEO: IN-DEPTH BACKGROUND ON ROBONAUT 2 HUMANOID PLAY
VIDEO: THE ASTRONAUTS' PRE-FLIGHT NEWS BRIEFING PLAY

VIDEO: PAYLOAD BAY DOORS CLOSED FOR LAUNCH PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: CREW LEAVES KSC FOR TRIP TO HOUSTON PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS INSPECT THE PAYLOAD BAY PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: SHUTTLE EVACUATION PRACTICE PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS EGRESS SHUTTLE AS SEEN LIVE PLAY
VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS BOARD DISCOVERY PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: SUN RISES ON LAUNCH PAD 39A PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: LAUNCH DAY REHEARSAL BEGINS PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: COMMEMORATIVE WALL SIGNING IN VAB PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: CREW BRIEFED ON EMERGENCY PROCEDURES PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: IN SHUTTLE TRAINING AIRCRAFT'S COCKPIT PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: TEST-DRIVING AN EMERGENCY ARMORED TANK PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: PRE-LAUNCH INTERVIEW WITH STEVE LINDSEY PLAY
VIDEO: PRE-LAUNCH INTERVIEW WITH ERIC BOE PLAY
VIDEO: PRE-LAUNCH INTERVIEW WITH AL DREW PLAY
VIDEO: PRE-LAUNCH INTERVIEW WITH TIM KOPRA PLAY
VIDEO: PRE-LAUNCH INTERVIEW WITH MIKE BARRATT PLAY
VIDEO: PRE-LAUNCH INTERVIEW WITH NICOLE STOTT PLAY

VIDEO: PAYLOADS INSTALLED INTO DISCOVERY PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: MISSION PAYLOADS ARRIVE AT LAUNCH PAD PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: CANISTER HAULING PAYLOADS TURNED UPRIGHT PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: MODULE HOISTED INTO SHIPPING CANISTER PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: WEIGHING NEW SPACE STATION MODULE PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: GANTRY PLACED AROUND DISCOVERY PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: SHUTTLE ATLANTIS REACHES PAD 39A PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: CROWDS WATCH DISCOVERY'S FINAL ROLLOUT PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: SHUTTLE HOISTED FOR ATTACHMENT TO TANK PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: CRANE ROTATES THE ORBITER VERTICALLY PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: DISCOVERY DEPARTS ITS HANGAR PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: TIME-LAPSE SHOWS DISCOVERY ASCENDING IN VAB PLAY
VIDEO: TIME-LAPSE SHOWS THE MOVE TO ASSEMBLY BUILDING PLAY

VIDEO: DISCOVERY'S MAIDEN FLIGHT: FIRST TRIP TO VAB PLAY
VIDEO: DISCOVERY'S MAIDEN FLIGHT: ROLLOUT TO PAD 39A PLAY
VIDEO: DISCOVERY'S MAIDEN FLIGHT: TEST-FIRING ENGINES PLAY
VIDEO: DISCOVERY'S MAIDEN FLIGHT: ASSORTED VIEWS OF FRF PLAY

VIDEO: THE HISTORY OF SHUTTLE DISCOVERY PLAY
VIDEO: THE HISTORY OF SHUTTLE ENDEAVOUR PLAY
VIDEO: THE HISTORY OF SHUTTLE ATLANTIS PLAY

VIDEO: INSPECTION OF THE MISSION PAYLOADS PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: ROBONAUT ARRIVES AT KENNEDY SPACE CENTER PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: SPACE STATION'S SPARE THERMAL RADIATOR PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: BLANKETING LEONARDO WITH INSULATION PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: RACK INSERTED INTO LEONARDO FOR LAUNCH PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: LEONARDO RETURNS FROM ITS PREVIOUS FLIGHT PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: STATION'S SPARE PARTS DEPOT ARRIVES PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: ORBITER'S PAYLOAD BAY CLOSED FOR ROLLOUT PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS VISIT THEIR SPACECRAFT PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: CREW INSPECTS LEONARDO MODULE PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: DISCOVERY RECEIVES ITS MAIN ENGINES PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: FUEL TANK MATED TO SOLID ROCKET BOOSTERS PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: HOISTING FUEL TANK INTO CHECKOUT BAY PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: EXTERNAL FUEL TANK UNLOADED FROM BARGE PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: MISSION'S FUEL TANK ARRIVES AT SPACEPORT PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: POST-FLIGHT DESERVICING: OMS POD PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: POST-FLIGHT DESERVICING: OBSS BOOM PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: POST-FLIGHT DESERVICING: ENGINES PLAY | HI-DEF
SUBSCRIBE NOW