Lightweight Multi Purpose Experiment Support Structure Carrier

The MPLM Leonardo and the LMC with an empty nitrogen tank on the ISS according to STS-126 .

The Lightweight Multi-Purpose Experiment Support Structure Carrier (LMC) was a platform that could be installed in the cargo hold of the space shuttle if required . It served as a carrier for experiments or payloads.

This construction, developed by engineers at the Marshall Space Flight Center within a year , used the remaining space in the orbiter's hold behind the MPLM logistics module . In this way, scientific experiments could also be taken into space very cheaply, or spare parts could be brought to the international space station.

The LMC was first used on the STS-108 mission .