The Integrated Cargo Carrier is an unpressurized flat bed pallet and keel yoke assembly housed in Discovery's payload bay. Constructed of aluminum, it is eight feet long, 15 feet wide and 10 inches thick and has the capability to carry cargo on both faces of the pallet, both atop and below.

During STS-96, the ICC will carry the U.S. space walkers' crane, which is called the OTD for Orbital Replacement Unit Transfer Device. The OTD weighs 209 pounds and will be mounted to the exterior of Unity during a space walk by astronauts Tammy Jernigan and Dan Barry. It also will carry 198 pounds of parts for the Russian Strela crane which will be stowed on the exterior of Pressurized Mating Adapter 2 (PMA-2)by Jernigan and Barry.

Also mounted to the ICC, is the Spacehab-Oceaneering Space System Box (SHOSS), which is designed to carry up to 400 pounds of space-walking tools and flight equipment to assist astronauts during ISS assembly.

The ICC provides sufficient surface area in the cargo bay to carry approximately 3,000 pounds of cargo which would otherwise have to be carried in the Shuttle's cabin.

The ICC will be used by astronauts throughout the construction of the Space Station as it transports hardware from locations on the station's exterior to work sites on the truss assemblies.