Chronology of Key Dates in the Development of the International Space Station
November 23, 2000 - 0:0
June 29, 1995 Astronauts and cosmonauts meet in space as U.S. shuttle Atlantis docks with Russia's Mir Space Station. NASA hails event as beginning of assembly of International Space Station, a project first envisaged in 1984. Oct. 19, 1995 European Union ministers agree on funding for Europe's share of the ISS. Jan. 27, 1997 Russia says it has budgeted all cash needed to fund its share after U.S. lawmakers said the project could unravel because Russia had been slow to meet its obligations.
Feb. 24, 1997 Cash-strapped Russia announces delay in launch of first module of ISS. March 10, 1997 U.S. and European Space Agency strike deal for Europe to build two docking modules for ISS. Aug. 8, 1997 Crew of shuttle Discovery tests prototype $100 million robot arm created by Japanese Space Agency for ISS. Jan. 29, 1998 Russia, United States, Canada, Japan and 11 states in the European Space Agency agree to build ISS jointly. April 23, 1998 Expert panel tells NASA that construction of ISS may cost $24.7 billion instead of the $17.4 billion budgeted, and go on for three years beyond expected completion date of December 2003.
May 6, 1998 NASA Chief Daniel Goldin says he erred in letting Russia take on construction of key ISS service module.
May 31, 1998 NASA announces launch of ISS delayed three months by Russian economic problems. Sept. 16, 1998 Russian space officials say financial crisis could delay arrival of first crew on ISS by six months or more. Nov.
20, 1998 Russia launches proton rocket carrying first piece of ISS, its Zarya (Dawn) navigation and communications module. Dec. 4, 1998 Unity, the first U.S. component of ISS, is launched on the shuttle endeavor.
Dec. 6, 1998 The International Space Station is born as astronauts link Zarya to Unity. Dec. 11, 1998 Endeavor Commander Robert Cabana and Russian cosmonaut Sergei Krikalyov enter the ISS for the first time. Jan. 29, 1999 NASA announces Russia will be late with ISS living quarters. May 27-June 6, 1999 Shuttle Discovery visits ISS, 240 miles (390km) above earth. Crew transfers 3,600 pounds (1,600kg) of supplies, erects U.S.-built construction crane.
Oct. 18, 1999 Five Russian-American space crews start training on board the Zvezda (Star) module at Baikonur launch pad. May 19-29, 2000 Crew of shuttle Atlantis repair electrical systems on ISS and restore its flagging orbit.
July 12, 2000 20-ton Russian-built living module Zvezda launched from Baikonur. Oct. 12-24, 2000 Astronauts on board shuttle Discovery upgrade the ISS with two new segments ahead of arrival of first crew. Four spacewalks needed to make a new docking port and the base of a solar array operational.
Oct. 31, 2000 American Commander William Shepherd and Russian crewmates Yury Gidzenko and Sergei Krikalyov take off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
Feb. 24, 1997 Cash-strapped Russia announces delay in launch of first module of ISS. March 10, 1997 U.S. and European Space Agency strike deal for Europe to build two docking modules for ISS. Aug. 8, 1997 Crew of shuttle Discovery tests prototype $100 million robot arm created by Japanese Space Agency for ISS. Jan. 29, 1998 Russia, United States, Canada, Japan and 11 states in the European Space Agency agree to build ISS jointly. April 23, 1998 Expert panel tells NASA that construction of ISS may cost $24.7 billion instead of the $17.4 billion budgeted, and go on for three years beyond expected completion date of December 2003.
May 6, 1998 NASA Chief Daniel Goldin says he erred in letting Russia take on construction of key ISS service module.
May 31, 1998 NASA announces launch of ISS delayed three months by Russian economic problems. Sept. 16, 1998 Russian space officials say financial crisis could delay arrival of first crew on ISS by six months or more. Nov.
20, 1998 Russia launches proton rocket carrying first piece of ISS, its Zarya (Dawn) navigation and communications module. Dec. 4, 1998 Unity, the first U.S. component of ISS, is launched on the shuttle endeavor.
Dec. 6, 1998 The International Space Station is born as astronauts link Zarya to Unity. Dec. 11, 1998 Endeavor Commander Robert Cabana and Russian cosmonaut Sergei Krikalyov enter the ISS for the first time. Jan. 29, 1999 NASA announces Russia will be late with ISS living quarters. May 27-June 6, 1999 Shuttle Discovery visits ISS, 240 miles (390km) above earth. Crew transfers 3,600 pounds (1,600kg) of supplies, erects U.S.-built construction crane.
Oct. 18, 1999 Five Russian-American space crews start training on board the Zvezda (Star) module at Baikonur launch pad. May 19-29, 2000 Crew of shuttle Atlantis repair electrical systems on ISS and restore its flagging orbit.
July 12, 2000 20-ton Russian-built living module Zvezda launched from Baikonur. Oct. 12-24, 2000 Astronauts on board shuttle Discovery upgrade the ISS with two new segments ahead of arrival of first crew. Four spacewalks needed to make a new docking port and the base of a solar array operational.
Oct. 31, 2000 American Commander William Shepherd and Russian crewmates Yury Gidzenko and Sergei Krikalyov take off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.