AAS 96-129

SHUTTLE/MIR GNC MISSION OVERVIEW

D. Zimpfer, Charles Stark Draper Laboratory; P. Spehar, Lockheed Martin

Abstract

The STS-71 Space Shuttle Atlantis / Russian Mir Space Station docking mission represented several firsts in both the American and Russian space programs and demonstrated several capabilities required to construct and operate the International Space Station. It was the first Shuttle / Mir docking, the first time a vehicle this large had required attitude control, and upon undocking the Soyuz and Shuttle performed simultaneous free-flight about the Mir station. This paper summarizes the Guidance, Navigation and Control capabilities demonstrated and presents the flight results from the STS-71 Shuttle / Mir mission joint flight phases.