Linking the Space Shuttle and Space Stations

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xix

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2. The Space Shuttle and the Space Station

   • David J Shayler

   Pages 1-9

3. Shuttle and Salyut: A Lost Opportunity

   • David J Shayler

   Pages 10-35

4. The Price of Freedom

   • David J Shayler

   Pages 36-53

5. Putting it All Together

   • David J Shayler

   Pages 54-81

6. The Human Element

   • David J Shayler

   Pages 82-105

7. Getting There

   • David J Shayler

   Pages 106-135

8. Shuttle-Mir 1994–1998

   • David J Shayler

   Pages 136-151

9. The Docked Phase

   • David J Shayler

   Pages 152-168

10. Crew Transfers and Loadmasters

    • David J Shayler

    Pages 169-191

11. Getting Back

    • David J Shayler

    Pages 192-208

12. Back Matter

    Pages 209-245

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How could the newly authorized space shuttle help in the U.S. quest to build a large research station in Earth orbit? As a means of transporting goods, the shuttle could help supply the parts to the station. But how would the two entitles be physically linked?


Docking technologies had to constantly evolve as the designs of the early space stations changed. It was hoped the shuttle would make missions to the Russian Salyut and American Skylab stations, but these
were postponed until the Mir station became available, while plans for getting a new U. S. space station underway were stalled.


In Linking the Space Shuttle and Space Stations, the author delves into the rich history of the Space Shuttle and its connection to these early space stations, culminating in the nine missions to dock the shuttle to
Mir. By 1998, after nearly three decades of planning and operations, shuttle missions to Mir had resulted in:


• A proven system to link up the space shuttle to a space station
• Equipment and hands-on experience in handling tons of materials
• An infrastructure to support space station assembly and resupply


Each of these played a pivotal role in developing the skills and procedures crucial to the creation of the later, much larger and far more complex International Space Station, as described in the companion
volume Assembling and Supplying the ISS: The Space Shuttle Fulfills Its Mission.

• Constructing a Space Station
• International Space Station
• Reusable Space Vehicles
• Space Shuttle Mir Dockings
• Apollo Soyuz Test Project
• Joint manned space programs
• Skylab Space Station
• Space Station Freedom

“Shayler’s narrative approach sheds light on a key period in space exploration; the many interviews with Shuttle-Mir astronauts, along with photographs and diagrams throughout, help make this volume especially accessible and engaging. Interesting reading for space enthusiasts. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates and above; faculty and general readers.” (J. Z. Kiss, Choice, Vol. 55 (9), May, 2018)

• Astronautical Historian, Astro Info Service Ltd., Halesowen, West Midlands, United Kingdom

  David J. Shayler

Dave Shayler has been following the shuttle operational story for over 30 years and in particular aspects of its relationship with space stations. He has presented numerous papers on the topic and has authored series of articles published by the BIS in support of this outreach program and research. This work includes:

• 1991: The proposed USSR Salyut and US Shuttle Docking Mission circa 1981 (paper presented at the BIS Soviet Technical Forum 1991; paper published in JBIS 1991)
• 2000: American flights to Mir (Space shuttle) (published in BIS publication History of Mir; paper presented at BIS Soviet Technical Forum)
• 2002: NASA Shuttle missions to ISS (1998-2002) (published in BIS publication From Imagination to Reality: the ISS Volume 1)
• 2005: NASA Shuttle missions to ISS (2002-2005) (published in the BIS publication From Imagination to Reality: the ISS Volume 2)
• Unpublished: NASA Shuttle missions to ISS (2005-2011)

He joined theBIS in January 1976 and has participated in numerous activities, programs and projects including chairing meetings, working on committees and contributing to society publications. Dozens of his articles have appeared in BIS publications since 1977. He created Astro Info Service in October 1982 to focus his space writing and research, with lectures and educational outreach activities. Early publications included the periodicals ORBITER (on the Shuttle) and ZENIT (on Soviet activities), and a growing range of biographies on the world's space explorers. In 1990 he co-created the Midland Spaceflight Society and acts as its chairman. His first books were published in 1987 by Ian Allen and Salamander Books and since then over 20 titles have been authored including 13 titles in the Praxis Space Library between 2000 and 2009. He has also contributed to U. S. books and collections on human spaceflight including the three editions of Macmillan’s Who’s Who in Space edited by Michael Cassutt. In2008 his authorised biography on Skylab astronaut Jerry Carr was published after 20 years’ research. Personal research has been conducted at NASA JSC in Houston and at KSC in Florida, as well as at Rice and Clear Lake Universities and NARA archives in Texas. His research has also allowed him to complete a fascinating and informative visit to Russia in 2003 visiting the Cosmonaut Training Center and other facilities around Moscow.

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