Page 26 - Intro to Space Sciences Spacecraft Applications

Introduction and History 13

capability for longer missions and expansion and modification. Crews
have remained on board for up to a year, and several docking and labora-
tory modules have been added to the basic core.
The Russians continue to use the Soyuz spacecraft (with modifications)
to this day, concentrating on earth-orbit operations. For the past several
years they have averaged two to three Soyuz flights per year, exclusively
associated with visits to the Mir space station.

International Manned Spaceflight. The United States and Russia
remain the only countries capable of launching and supporting manned
spaceflight missions independently. However, individuals from several
other countries have participated in various U.S. and SoviedRussian
manned missions. The Space Shuttle has carried several international pay-
loads accompanied by payload specialists and scientists from these host
countries. Besides cosmonauts from the former Soviet Union states, the
Intercosmos program carried “guest” cosmonauts from other countries
into space aboard the Soyuz capsule. Countries that have participated in
these programs include Afghanistan, Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, Cuba,

Ill I I Ill I I Ill I I Ill I I Ill I I Ill I I Ill I I I
i B

Figure 1-9. The Mir space station has been in near-continuous use since its
launch in February 1986.