STS-71 was the first docking between a Space Shuttle and the Russian space station Mir. Atlantis launched on June 27, 1995, delivered a fresh crew to the station and returned another, marking a major step in U.S.–Russian cooperation in orbit.
For a time the joined vehicles formed the largest spacecraft yet assembled in space, and the mission helped lay the groundwork for the International Space Station.
The spacearchive.ai STS-71 collection brings together 9 records from the mission, including mission commentary, and training footage.
Preserved together, they form a searchable primary-source record of the mission for researchers, historians, and producers.
A working snapshot of what the collection holds today. The public catalog shows descriptive metadata; full media and transcripts are available through research access.
All records in this collection
This recording features training activities for the STS-71 mission, specifically focusing on astronaut Norm Thaggard's preparation for his flight to the Mir space station. Thaggard discusses the unique challenges of training in Russia, particularly the language barrier, and the objectives of the Mir mission, which include studying the effects of zero gravity on human physiology. Notably, he emphasizes the importance of cooperative missions between the U.S. and Russia and reflects on the reliability of the Soyuz spacecraft.
This recording captures on-orbit activities during the STS-71 mission, highlighting Norm Thaggard's calibration of the SAMs vibration measurement system and the installation of a temperature sensor in the ESA refrigerator, which required the removal of obstructive brackets. Thaggard also discusses the challenges faced due to discrepancies between training and actual conditions on Mir, emphasizing the collaborative efforts with Russian cosmonauts, including Valeri Polyakov. The session concludes with reflections on the importance of studying long-duration spaceflight effects for future missions to Mars.
This recording captures training activities for the STS-71 mission, focusing on astronaut Norm Thaggard's preparations for his upcoming flight to the Mir space station. Notably, Thaggard discusses the complexities of coordinating training schedules between U.S. and Russian teams, emphasizing the challenges of language barriers and communication. The recording also highlights upcoming activities aboard Mir, including blood draws for metabolic studies and the installation of quail eggs for an experiment on embryo development in microgravity.
This recording captures the on-orbit docking preparations during the STS-71 mission, specifically the final approach of Atlantis to the Mir space station, occurring approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes before docking. Commander Hoot Gibson and Pilot Charlie Precourt are actively engaged in the maneuvering process, with the shuttle positioned 270 feet below Mir. Notably, this mission marks the first docking of a U.S. spacecraft with the Mir space station, a significant milestone in U.S.-Russia cooperation in space. The crew also discusses the historic handshake between Gibson and Mir Commander Vladimir Dezhurov, which will occur after successful docking.
This recording captures the on-orbit activities during the STS-71 mission, focusing on the historic handshake between Commanders Hoot Gibson and Vladimir Dezhurov following the successful docking of Atlantis to the Mir space station. The hatch opening is scheduled for 19:30, with preparations underway by both crews, including Norm Thaggard and Bonnie Dunbar, who are involved in setting up cameras and lights for the event. This marks the first time U.S. and Russian spacecraft have been linked together since the Apollo-Soyuz mission.
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