Russian ISS Segment The ~$3-billion Russian segment is visible at right in this illustration from 1994. The small Russian laboratory modules (bottom right), Science and Power Platform (upper right) and most of the other components were derived from the old "Mir 1.5" plan. Credit: NASA via Marcus Lindroos. 66,973 bytes. 640 x 480 pixels.

Further Russian cutbacks lead to the Russian Science and Power Platform being replaced with one of the four American solar arrays. The RSPP was originally going to be launched on six Russian Proton rockets fairly early during the assembly phase, but the platform, now postponed, will be launched on an American Shuttle if it is ever ready. The Science and Power Platform would only power the Russian laboratory modules, however, so unlike the Service Module it is not crucial to the success of the whole ISS project.

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Russian ISS Segment - Another view of the Russian ISS segment, circa 1997. Many ISS elements had been moved from Russian rockets to the US Space Shuttle. The Russian laboratory modules (center) had been replaced with a larger FGB-derived design to save money. Credit: NASA via Marcus Lindroos. 49,605 bytes. 640 x 426 pixels.

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