Shuttle-Mir Program

The Shuttle-Mir Program was Phase 1 of the United States-Russian space-station partnership, using Space Shuttle flights and American astronaut residencies aboard Mir to prepare for International Space Station operations. It combined crew exchanges, research, logistics transfers, and joint mission planning across two established human-spaceflight organizations. Nine Shuttle missions docked with Mir, while seven NASA astronauts accumulated 907 days aboard the Russian station. STS-91 completed the final docking visit in June 1998 and returned Andrew Thomas, concluding the American resident phase. The program's practical experience shaped subsequent international station assembly and long-duration expedition work.