Zarya (; lit.
Red Sky Glow, Aurora, Sunrise), also known as the
Functional Cargo Block or
FGB (from the Russian "", or
ФГБ), was the first module of the
International Space Station to be launched. The FGB provided electrical power, storage, propulsion, and guidance to the ISS during the initial stage of assembly. With the launch and assembly in orbit of other modules with more specialized functionality, Zarya is now primarily used for storage, both inside the pressurized section and in the externally mounted fuel tanks. The Zarya is a descendant of the
TKS spacecraft designed for the Russian
Salyut program. The name
Zarya, which means sunrise, was given to the FGB because it signified the dawn of a new era of international cooperation in space. Although it was built by a Russian company, it is owned by the
United States.