Russian Research Module

The Russian Research Module (RM) was to be a Russian component of the International Space Station (ISS) that provided facilities for Russian science experiments and research. The original designs of ISS featured two research modules, but Russian budget problems caused one of them along with the Universal Docking Module to be cancelled early in the program, leaving only one Research Module. This Research Module was scheduled to be built and launched in 2010 or later. In 2007 it was decided that, due to the continuing budget problems, the last Research Module was to be cancelled as well.

According to the current schedule the module with scientific designation for the Russian Orbital Segment will be the FGB-2 based Multipurpose Laboratory Module approved after the cancelation of the original RM1 and RM2.

Additionaly the Russian Orbital Segment will contain two smaller modules, initialy named Mini-Research Module 1 and 2. The MRM1 will replace the Docking and Stowage Module of the original design and is based on the canceled Science Power Platform pressurised compartment. MRM2 is one of the names for the original Docking Compartment 2 module, that was canceled, but later scheduled again for 2009 launch by Progress M-MIM2. MRM1 will be launched in 2010 onboard the Space Shuttle by NASA.