THE SPACE SHUTTLE STS 71/Atlantis returned to the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on 7 July after a triumphant joint mission with the Russian space station, the Mir 1, which highlighted minor changes required for future flights.
This first Shuttle/Mir Mission, SMM-1, delivered two cosmonauts to the Mir 1 and returned the crew of the Soyuz TM21 to Earth. Among those returning was US astronaut Norman Thagard, who flew a 115-day mission, exceeding the previous US record of 84 days set by the Skylab 4 crew in 1974.
Thagard's major problem on the Mir 1 was a feeling of extreme cultural isolation. On his return, Thagard expressed his concern about the "psychological stress of longer flights". Four other NASA astronauts face similar missions.
Thagard says: "You are one American on a Russian craft and no one else really speaks English". He "...went days without talking" to US colleagues and hearing any news. Daniel Goldin, NASA's administrator says: "Dr Thagard made it very clear to us that we need to take a look at the psychological well-being."
The use of the Shuttle orbiter to control the attitude of the 231t linked spacecraft, initially caused a dramatic drain of propellant, and its software will have to be modified for later missions.
When the Atlantis undocked for its aerial ballet to allow the Mir 1 to be photographed - with the Soyuz TM21 also undocking so that the Shuttle could be photographed - the change in momentum caused the Mir 1 to move 10degrees off attitude.
Source: Flight International
