Inside Leonardo

NASA astronauts Steve Lindsey (left) and Scott Kelly in the Leonardo Permanent Multipurpose Module after its installation on the International Space Station in February 2011.

Leonardo was built and designed by Italy’s ASI space agency to transport cargo and equipment to the Space Station inside NASA’s Space Shuttle. Modified to improve its shielding and visibility to visiting craft, it was attached permanently to the Station in 2011 after visiting the outpost seven times.

Leonardo is used for storing cargo bags, spare parts and food. One cargo rack is reserved for astronauts to use as a personal locker for their clothes, personal hygiene material and other belongings.