Shuttle–Mir program

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Shuttle - Mir program is another collaborative program between US and Russia, remember Apollo-Soyuz test project. This program involved Space Shuttle to fly to the space station Mir (Mir space station).  The program consisted of 11 space flights to the Russian Mir, and American astronauts living in the station. 




In early 1980s NASA planned space station Freedom as a counterpart to Mir, while Soviets planned to replace Mir with Mir-2 in 1990s. American president G.H.W. Bush and Russian president B. Yeltsin agreed to cooperate on the space exploration in June 1992. US Vice president Al Gore, Jr. and Russian Prime minister V. Chernomyrdin announced plans for a new space station (probably later International Space Station) and agreed on close collaboration and involvement of Space shuttle in Mir station program, creating project called Shuttle-Mir program.    

Cosmonaut Sergei Krikalev became the first Russian to fly aboard the space shuttle STS-60 in February 1994. STS-63 made first rendezvous with Mir but didn't dock. On the other hand astronaut Norman Thagard became the first American aboard the Soyuz launched toward the space station Mir and spent there 115 days in March to July 1995. Space shuttle STS-71 became the first shuttle to dock with Mir space station. STS-74 carried Russian built docking module with two attached solar arrays. From March 1996 US astronauts became continuously present on the space station Mir, performing NASA's and Russian scientist's experiments. Astronaut Linenger came with STS-81 and hw became the first American to conduct a spacewalk from Soyuz and he tested Russian spacesuit Orlan-M alongside Russian cosmonaut V. Tsibliyev. 

Linenger, Tsibliyev and Lazutkin faced several difficulties during their mission, including fire aboard caused by a backup oxygen generating device, failures of various system, near collision with a Progress supply spacecraft.  

STS-91 closed the Shuttle-Mir program, more precisely after the landing of Discovery on June 12, 1998 the phase one ended. 

Something interesting points:

The crew aboard the Soyuz TM-13 was the last crew launched from USSR to Mir. The crew is mostly notable due to launching as Soviets and landing as Russians. 

 The food was either frozen, refrigerated, or canned. Menus was prepared before the spaceflight and checked by dietitian. The diet was designed to proved about 100g protein, 130 g fat, 330 g carbohydrates per day, with mineral and vitamin supplements in addition. Cosmonauts drank tea, coffee, and juices, but unlike the ISS, it was possible to drink cognac and vodka for special occasions.  

 There were two toilets on Mir. They used fan suction system. The user was first fastened to the toilet seat, a lever operated a powerful fan and suction hole slid open: the air stream carried the waste away. Solid waste was collected, liquid waste was send away by a hose connected to the front of the toilet. 
Russian Space Toilet

Crew was usually using wet wipes to clean. Also crew was provided with rinse-less shampoo and edible toothpaste to save water. 

The station had to 2 permanent areas, called Kayutkas in a size of phone box each equipped  with sleeping bag. Visiting crew attached sleeping bag wherever it was available. US astronauts installed their space with Spektr until the Progress collision with the station. 

Another phases:
The phases two and three is the International Space Station ISS (1998-2024). 


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