Editing Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (section)

==History==
The modules were provided to [[NASA]] under contract by the Italian Space Agency (ASI). Three MPLMs were built and delivered to NASA and have names chosen by the ASI to denote some of the great talents in Italian history: [[Leonardo da Vinci]], [[Raphael|Raffaello]] and [[Donatello]]. Although built by ASI, the modules are owned by NASA. In exchange for building the MPLMs, ASI receives access to U.S. research time on the ISS.<ref name="nasamplm" />

The MPLMs have a heritage that goes back to [[Spacelab]].<ref name="heritage">{{Cite web|url=http://esamultimedia.esa.int/docs/columbus/newspaper/ESA_ColumbusLab_newspaper_ENG.pdf|title=A new European science laboratory in Earth orbit|website=ESAMultimedia.ESA.int|publisher=[[European Space Agency]]}}</ref> In addition, ESA's ''[[Columbus (ISS module)|Columbus]]'' module, the ''Harmony'' and ''[[Tranquility (ISS module)|Tranquility]]'' ISS modules and the [[Automated Transfer Vehicle|ATV]] and [[Cygnus spacecraft|Cygnus]] resupply craft all trace their origins to the MPLMs.<ref name="heritage" /> The MPLM concept was originally created for [[Space Station Freedom]]. Initially, they were to be built by [[Boeing]], but in 1992, the Italians announced that they would build a "Mini-Pressurized Logistics Module", able to carry {{convert|4500|kg|t}} of cargo. After the 1993 redesign of Freedom, the length was doubled and it was renamed the "Multi-Purpose Logistics Module". Each empty MPLM is approximately {{convert|21|ft|m}} long, {{convert|15|ft|m}} in diameter, weighs {{convert|4400|kg}}, and can deliver up to nine metric tons of cargo to the ISS.<ref name="nasamplm" />

''Donatello'' was a more capable module than its two siblings, as it was designed to carry payloads that required continuous power from construction through to installation on the ISS.  However, ''Donatello'' was never used and some of its parts were cannibalized to convert ''Leonardo'' into the PMM.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts133/101007payloads/|title=Spaceflight Now - STS-133 Shuttle Report - Roomy addition for space station ready to launch|website=SpaceFlightNow.com}}</ref>

With the end of the Space Shuttle program in 2011, the ''Raffaello'' and ''Leonardo'' modules were flown a combined total of 12 times.