EXPRESS Logistics Carrier

The EXPRESS Logistics Carriers (ELC ) ( Expedite the Processing of Experiments to the Space Station) are external transport and carrier platforms for experiments and spare parts, so-called ORUs, at the International Space Station.

An ELC each consists of a gray, square-shaped grid structure can be positioned on the elements is desired, which takes place on each grid area in about half a dozen parts place. In addition, attached to the mounting of the platform and other work breakpoints for the robot arm.

The first two, ELC -1 and ELC - 2, were transported on 18 November 2009 with the Space Shuttle mission STS -129 to the ISS. ELC -4 followed 26 February 2011 with STS- 133rd ELC -3 was mounted on 18 May 2011 during shuttle mission STS -134 to the ISS. While ELC -1 down ( nadir) and ELC -3 above ( zenith ) was mounted on the P3 element of the Integrated Truss Structure, one mounted ELC -2 above and ELC -4 down on the opposite S3 truss. The ELCs are 1.6 tons, 4 x 5 feet tall, have four and a half -ton payload capacity and 30 cubic feet of storage space.

To the family of EXPRESS elements also includes the EXPRESS racks that are installed as submodules in an International Standard Payload Rack inside the space station.