On this day: On 29 June 1995, the American spacecraft Atlantis connected with the Russian space station Mir.
The US spacecraft reconnects to the Russian space station Mir (File Photo-NASA)
Since the Second World War, there has been a rivalry between Russia and America in the field of defense to space. In such a situation, both the countries have been enemies of each other. But there has been one area where both have joined hands and that area is space. Both have cooperated a lot in the field of space. In this episode, on 29 June 1995, the American spacecraft Atlantis joined the Russian space station Mir. In this way, it worked to make the largest man-made satellite ever in Earth’s orbit.
This moment of cooperation between the two arch enemies through space programs was also a historic moment, because with this mission America completed its 100th space mission. At the time, NASA chief Daniel Goldin called it the beginning of a new era of friendship and cooperation between the US and Russia. Millions of viewers on television watched Atlantis take off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in eastern Florida on June 27, 1995.
American astronauts welcomed with traditional songs
Atlantis and its seven crew members contacted Space Station Mir after 6 a.m. on June 29. During this both the spacecraft were orbiting 245 miles above the Earth. At the same time, when the astronauts aboard Mir saw Atlantis, three of them welcomed the American astronauts through a traditional song. In the next two hours, American spacecraft commander Robert Hoot Gibson skillfully diverted it to the Russian space station. For docking, Gibson carried the 100-ton American spacecraft Atlantis by three inches. After this Atlantis was attached to Mir.
The mission proved helpful in the construction of the International Space Station
Once docking was complete, Gibson and Mir’s commander Vladimir Dezurov greeted each other with folded hands in a triumphant celebration of the historic moment. There was also a formal exchange of gifts, with Atlantis crew members bringing chocolates, fruits and flowers, and Mir’s astronauts welcomed them with a traditional Russian meal made of bread and salt. Atlantis remained attached to the Russian Space Station for five days before returning to Earth. NASA carried out 11 missions in collaboration with Russia, with the help of which the International Space Station was prepared.
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