ShuttleMir

Shuttle-Mir, also known as the Space Shuttle–Mir program, was a joint spaceflight initiative between NASA and Roscosmos to dock Space Shuttle orbiters with the Russian space station Mir. Conducted from 1995 to 1998, the program aimed to build operational experience in international spaceflight, facilitate crew exchanges, and pave the way for the International Space Station (ISS) by blending American shuttle operations with Russian space station expertise.

The program involved several Space Shuttle dockings with Mir. The first docking occurred in 1995, marking a major milestone in U.S.–Russian cooperation in space. In the mid-1990s, a Docking Module was delivered to Mir to improve docking capability and housing for joint activities. Throughout the run, crews from both nations conducted joint experiments, exchanged crews, and trained for long-duration spaceflight in a multinational environment. A discernible feature of Shuttle-Mir was the long-duration stay of a U.S. astronaut aboard Mir, accompanied by Russian crews, which provided practical experience with extended spaceflight operations and international collaboration.

Shuttle-Mir is regarded as a transitional program that linked Russia’s credibility in operating a space station with NASA’s Shuttle program, while also serving as a stepping stone to the ISS. The program concluded with the final Shuttle–Mir docking in 1998, after which NASA shifted its focus toward ISS assembly and operations, continuing the collaboration with Roscosmos in a broader station program.

Overall, Shuttle-Mir demonstrated the viability of international partnerships in space, contributed to shared operational know-how, and helped establish procedures and trust essential for the ISS era.