The ISS is the relocation of the cargo ship “Progress”. It needs to give way to “Science” the new module to the station. The cargo ship already sailed away from the ISS to a few hours to find a last refuge in a deserted and non-navigational area of the Pacific ocean known as the graveyard of spaceships.
“Progress” pulls one of the oldest elements of the station is the docking module “Pirs”. Faithfully and sluice compartments it served the ships and the Shuttles 16 years and now the time has come to give way to the young.
To replace the Pier, at the end of the 17th year comes a new laboratory module “Science”.