What was the initial phase of cooperation with Russia designed to test before the formal ISS partnership?
Answer
The Shuttle-Mir Program
The transformation of the International Space Station (ISS) program involved a pivotal strategic decision to incorporate Russia as a core partner, which was intended to leverage their deep experience in long-duration spaceflight while reducing the American financial commitment. The necessary groundwork and operational testing for this complex international relationship were conducted through the Shuttle-Mir Program. This program specifically involved sending seven American astronauts to the Russian Mir space station over a period spanning from 1995 to 1998, serving as a critical, functional testbed for managing joint operations in orbit before the official Intergovernmental Agreement was signed in January 1998.
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