Linking the Space Shuttle and Space Stations

Beschreibung

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 thesewere 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 toMir. 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 companionvolume Assembling and Supplying the ISS: The Space Shuttle Fulfills Its Mission.
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 thesewere 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 toMir. 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 companionvolume Assembling and Supplying the ISS: The Space Shuttle Fulfills Its Mission.
Discusses the development of shuttle operation in relation to early space stations Offers an explanation of how plans were created to fly space shuttles with the Soviet Salyut, American Skylab and Freedom and to the Russian Mir space stations Explains the concept of utilizing the space shuttle design to assemble and resupply large space stations Includes firsthand interviews with those involved with the program Discusses revealing documents from the archives of NASA on how the agency planned for docking a shuttle to a Soviet space station Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

Autor*in

David J. Shayler

Themen in »Linking the Space Shuttle and Space Stations«

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

Stimmen zu »Linking the Space Shuttle and Space Stations«

“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)
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