ASIM is transported to ISS in the external trunk of Dragon. Once Dragon is docked to ISS Node 2, the Space Station Remote Manipulator System - SSRMS will install ASIM in its final location on Columbus. The SSRMS will utilize the Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator - SPDM to grab ASIM in the Dragon trunk for extraction. The SPDM can operate the Flight Releasable Attachment Mechanism - FRAM to dettach ASIM from the trunk. The same mechanism is installed on the SPDM itself in case ASIM needs to be fixed to the SPDM in order receive power for thermal heaters during the seven hour transfer to Columbus. On the Columbus External Payload Facility ASIM will be attached to the starboard facing deck location, named EPF SDX, which also suppports the FRAM.
On Jan. 10, 2022, ASIM was relocated from the EPF SDX to EPF SDN (Starboard Deck Nadir), in order to make way for the NASA STP-H7 payload. ASIM operations continue at the new location giving the opportunity to observe upper atmospheric discharges from a side perspective, rather than from directly above.