'Unity' Node-1 for ISS

Node-1 ('Unity') was built at the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center by Boeing and launched aboard the Space Shuttle on 4 December 1998 as the first US element of the International Space Station (ISS). It was attached in-orbit to the 'Zarya Russian-built and -launched first element on 7 December. Unity will serve as a connecting node with other ISS modules via the six hatches. ESA is responsible for providing Nodes-2 and -3. [Image Date: 1996//11] [98.08.003-003]