Challenges of Human Space Exploration

Marsha Freeman

For most people the Mir space station is synonymous with calamity - a fire, collision with an unmanned Progress M-34 supply vehicle, and countless life-threatening technical failures.

Unfortunately that tends to eclipse the fact that the American and Russian space agencies successfully co-operated on this project for six years. NASA astronauts and Russian cosmonauts worked together to overcome mechanical and engineering breakdowns, cultural differences, political crises and mistrust to contribute significantly to scientific advancement.

Here is the untold story of the Shuttle-Mir programme.

Challenges of Human Space Exploration describes, in detail and in the words of the astronauts who lived aboard Mir, the major scientific achievements of the programme. Not the least, these include lessons learned about reducing risks and stress, and the implications for the forthcominging International Space Station.

If you want to look beyond the headlines of the Shuttle-Mir missions this is the book for you.

Table of contents:

Foreword
Author's Preface
Acknowledgements
List of Illustrations
1. Skylab sets the stage
2. Americans and Russians on Mir
3. Growing food in space
4. A biorevolution through tissue engineering
5. Space crystals fight against disease
6. The lessons learned from Mir
7. Science on an international space laboratory
Appendix 1: American long-duration missions on Mir
Appendix 2: Psychological support of the American astronauts on Mir
Appendix 3: Scientific investigations on Mir
Bibliography
Index

Extent: 272 pages: Approx 100 photographs and diagrams
Binding: paperback
Publication Date: June 2000
ISBN: 978-1-85233-201-3

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