As the Salyut program came to an end, largely because a bigger and more versatile space station was the obvious next step, the Soviets conceived, designed, and launched - piece by piece - the components then assembled in space. This, the Mir station, was for 15 years the premier space facility in orbit. The first component was sent into space on February 20, 1986. The sequence of assembled parts is shown on a Web site that gives the Mir Construction timeline. You can also use this site to learn more about the individual named components and their functions. The next two photos show Mir in space.
The next figure shows a schematic of the fully assembled station, similar to the one presented on the above Web site
As it was built, the Soviet Union was in process of dissolution. Being strapped for cash to keep its space program going effectively, the Russians, with some continued cooperation from states that split off, decided to join NASA and other nations in joint use of Mir, even as the U.S. was developing the design and schedule for its own space station, ISS. There were a number of visits to MIR by the Space Shuttle, possible because the two facilities incorporated appropriate hardware to allow docking. Here is the Shuttle as attached to Mir.
Mir was manned by astro/cosmo-nauts over 13 years, 213 days (involving 3287 days of uninterrupted occupation). Much experience was gained in living and performing for weeks at a time. Most of the 128 visits brought crews of 6.
Besides the Shuttle, Mir was routined visited by Soyuz-TM spacecraft carrying personnel. The Russians developed the Progress-M spacecraft, unmanned, used to deliver supplies and materials to Mir and to cart away refuse as the vehicle returned to Earth. Here are two views of this ferry spacecraft
Mir was in many ways a large success. But it experienced numerous, sometimes dangerous, problems over its lifetime. So, with fond regrets, the Russians brought about its fiery reentry on March 28, 2001.
Soyuz, Progress-M, and the Shuttle continue as viable means of bringing 'nauts and materials to a new and grander platform, the International Space Station, even now still under construction. The need for safe, adept reusable transport craft to replace these vehicles has caused serious "brainstorming" of new designs and technologies by space organizations worldwide. Here is a panel showing 4 candidate spacecraft, sometimes referred to as space planes, from which one may be selected, or an as-yet new version will evolve.
The story of ISS is quite involved, with interesting details beyond the limits on this page. A very good overview of the ISS history can be found at this International Space Station Web site. This site also reviews such ISS topics as politics and costs, contributions by multinational partners, problems being encountered, stages and schedules for completion, and purposes/goals for the station's use as a practical plaform in space. Some of the illustrations below are taken from this Web site (put together by the Geocities group).
The ISS grew out of a combination of two space station programs. The Soviets began planning for Mir-2 in 1982, with launch in the early '90s. President Reagan announced a new program to build Space Station Freedom in 1984. After the Cold War ended, the two nations decided to combine their station plans and to ask other nations (16 at present) to contribute equipment, personnel, and monetary resources, thus making this a true "International" Space Station. Early plans for a final station were grandiose, but doable. This is an artist's view of the fully constructed ISS:
The next figure is a drawing that shows the hoped-for actual final ISS, to be completed by end of 2006, assuming the Space Shuttle returns to service, meets its schedule, and has no accidents. The Shuttle is the only vehicle presently capable of handling large payloads. (Note: the figure's writing is fuzzy but you can find a clearer version on the Geocities Web site listed above.)
One of the current uncertainties is the ability of the Russian program to deliver its major components. These are shown in the diagram below:
One of the more important components is the final quarters (Habitation Module) that will serve to house the humans living in the ISS. Here is one version:
The first component, the Zarya Cargo module, was placed in orbit on November 20, 1998. Subsequent Shuttle and Soyuz flights have added some of the essential components. The station grew to the point where it could be occupied by a crew of three (the final ISS should be able to accommodate 6 or 7 passengers). The first crew arrived on October 21, 2000 and dedicated the ISS (as Station Alpha) on November 2. Here is a picture of the ISS soon thereafter.
This is the ISS in late 2001.
The last visit of a Shuttle carrying new components was in October, 2002. This photo shows the current stage of ISS' building as of then.
The Columbia disaster has halted all work for now, but the ISS-Alpha is still in good shape, as it was photographed by a high resolution camera from Earth
If all goes well Shuttle flights will resume in mid-2005. Completing the bulk of the remaining construction is planned to be done by end of 2007. Currently, there are continuous 2-person crews on the ISS, usually one American and one Russian. A Soyuz vehicle remains docked at the station in case of need for emergency evacuation. The total cost of building the ISS will be at least $56 billion (and probably more). Its planned operational lifetime is 15 years, but the shut-down date, which would be as early at 2013 based on start time, will likely be extended owing to the hiatuses involved when visits were not made.
President Bush's 2004 directive to NASA outlining the administration's proposals for the U.S. space program for the next two decades included among its goals a return to the Moon. One option being considered would be to establish a fixed lunar base, manned by astronauts/cosmonauts for extended periods (using unmanned supply ships). Such a base would allow certain experiments to be done better than most other environments. One task could be to set up a powerful telescope for astronomical observations. Implicit in this goal is the further hope for planetary exploration, such as visiting and then setting up base(s) on Mars. These "pie-in-the-sky" events are no so far-fetched. The writer believes on or more versions of planetary bases will be a reality during the lifetime of his new granddaughter (maybe she would be involved!). A motivating factor behind developing these bases is the "dream" of someday establishing colonies on Mars or other bodies. Imaginative and elaborate schemes for producing oxygen and water, and growing foodstuffs, in colonies have been worked out by space visionaries.
The Russians, with their financing problems, hit upon a novel way to attract money from non-governmental sources to support their continuing participation in space station activities. They trained and then launched a rich civilian, Dennis Tito, and brought him aboard the ISS for a brief stay, charging $20 million dollars for this privilege. NASA officials were not "charmed" by this enterprising approach to selling space travel to the populace.
This form of entrepeneurship is an example of the trend to commercialize "space" in various ways. That is the subject of the next page.
Primary Author: Nicholas M. Short, Sr.
email: nmshort@ptd.net