Russia's Zarya control module and the USA's smaller Node 1 Unity are pictured linked together in orbit by the crew of the Space Shuttle STS88 Endeavour, which completed the first International Space Station assembly mission during December. The Russian-built Service Module is scheduled to be added to the Zarya-Unity combination in July, although there is a strong possibility that completion delays could push back the launch until September. Another Space Shuttle mission, the STS96 Discovery, however, is to be launched on 13 May to deliver more cargo and to carry out extra spacewalk work, along with preparations to ready the station for operations.
Source: Flight International
