posted 07-16-2019 12:04 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by perineau:
Really liked the color scheme transition from the USSR to Russia!

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posted 07-22-2019 03:45 PM               

In 1992 we saw 8 flights of the Space Shuttle: two flights for each orbiter including a pair for the brand new Shuttle Endeavour.

The shuttle continued to prove its versatility as it hauled a wide variety of payloads into space. Six flights were dedicated to research (including four using Spacelab Modules or Pallets), one was a contracted mission to repair a satellite and one was the final DoD mission for the shuttle.

1992 also brought us spaceflights from the Russian Federation. Russia would fly a pair of Soyuz TM flights to Mir and again keep the station manned throughout the year. To help fund the program, both flights included European researchers in the third seat who would each spend a week in space.

#187 STS-42

#188 Soyuz TM-14

#189 STS-45

#190 STS-49

#191 STS-50

#192 Soyuz TM-15

#193 STS-46

#194 STS-47

#195 STS-52

#196 STS-53

posted 07-29-2019 01:38 PM               

1993 was another busy year for the Space Shuttle with 7 missions being flown. Endeavour would fly three missions, Discovery two and Columbia two. Atlantis was undergoing its OMDP-1 maintenance during 1993 and did not fly.

1993 saw NASA fly 3 Spacelab research missions including two with the pressurized Spacelab Module. A new TDRS was deployed and the first flight of SPACEHAB occurred. NASA rounded out the year with the first Hubble Space Telescope servicing mission which finally solved the flawed mirror problem allowing the satellite to show its true potential.

Russia would fly a pair of Soyuz TM missions to Mir to keep the station manned for another year. The most unique of these was Soyuz TM-16 which was fitted with a APAS-89 docking system rather than the traditional probe and drogue. This allowed the testing of the docking system on Kristall for the upcoming Shuttle-Mir dockings.

Soyuz TM-17 would also see the Russians continue to work with the international community to help fund their program as a French researcher spent 20 days in space.

So, here are the cards. I hope you enjoy them.

#197 STS-54

#198 Soyuz TM-16

#199 STS-56

#200 STS-55

#201 STS-57

#202 Soyuz TM-17

#203 STS-51

#204 STS-58

#205 STS-61

posted 08-05-2019 03:12 PM               

The biggest event news for 1994 was STS-60 which was the first flight of the Shuttle-Mir Program. This program (Phase 1 as it was known), was designed to foster cooperation with Russia and gain experience working together in space prior to the construction of the International Space Station. Although STS-60 did not involve Mir, it did feature the first Russian cosmonaut on the shuttle.

1994 was a year during which the shuttle was heavily involved in research. We saw Columbia carry the ESA Spacelab Module into space, Endeavour launch the Space Radar Laboratory twice, and Atlantis fly the third ATLAS mission.

For the Russians, 1994 was another year or continuous Mir occupation. On January 8, Soyuz TM-18 launched carrying the EO-15 crew to Mir. What made this unique was the crew included Physician Valeri Polyakov. Polyakov would remain in space for 14 months (spanning 3 Mir expeditions) setting a duration record that still stands today.

So, here are the cards for 1994:

#206 Soyuz TM-18

#207 STS-60

#208 STS-62

#209 STS-59

#210 Soyuz TM-19

#211 STS-65

#212 STS-64

#213 STS-68

#214 Soyuz TM-20

#215 STS-66

That concludes 1994. I hope you enjoyed them.

posted 08-08-2019 10:47 AM               

1995 was a year that began a new era of international cooperation. In 1995, we saw the United States and Russia begin to live together on Mir. During this time, Dr. Valeri Polyakov completed his 14 month record breaking stay on Mir. Towards the end of his time on the station, he witnessed the Space Shuttle Discovery rendezvous with the station. Then, in March with the arrival of Soyuz TM-21 he was greeted by U.S. Astronaut Norman Thagard who became the first American to live on Mir. It was during his stay that Mir was expanded for the first time since 1990 with the arrival of Spektr.

June brought the Space Shuttle Atlantis to Mir for the first Shuttle-Mir docking and the shuttle delivered the next Russian resident crew to the station. Then, in September Soyuz TM-22 arrived with a new Mir crew which included German Thomas Reiter.

The final spaceflight of the year saw Atlantis return to Mir to deliver the Docking Module to the station. With the arrival of this crew, four different countries were represented onboard Mir: Russia and Germany with the Mir crew and U.S. and Canada with the shuttle crew.

In addition, the three Shuttle-Mir missions, the space shuttle flew four independent missions. Endeavour flew the ASTRO-2 Skylab mission in March and the second Wake Shield Facility flight in September. Discovery deployed a TDRS satellite in July and Columbia carried the Spacelab into orbit in October for the USML-2 mission.

So, here are the cards for 1995:

#216 STS-63

#217 STS-67

#218 Soyuz TM-21

#219 Spektr

#220 STS-71

#221 STS-70

#222 Soyuz TM-22

#223 STS-69

#224 STS-73

#225 STS-74

posted 08-20-2019 12:44 PM               

1996 saw the shuttle fly seven times. Columbia flew three missions, Atlantis two and Endeavour two. Discovery did not fly in 1996 as it was undergoing its OMDP.

Columbia would fly with USMP-3 and the TSS making its second flight as its first mission. It would then carry the Spacelab into orbit. Its final flight was the last flight of the WSF and the longest mission of the shuttle program.

Endeavour flew a pair of research missions and Atlantis docked with Mir on two occasions. Atlantis's flight of STS-76 began a 27 month period during which six different U.S. Astronauts lived on Mir. This would be the first time the U.S. has established a continuous presence in space.

The Russians flew a pair of Soyuz TM missions to Mir and for another year kept the station occupied. Additionally, the final Mir module launched and docked in 1996.

#226 STS-72

#227 Soyuz TM-23

#228 STS-75

#229 STS-76

#230 Priroda

#231 STS-77

#232 STS-78

#233 Soyuz TM-24

#234 STS-79

#235 STS-80

posted 08-27-2019 01:54 PM               

A pair of Soyuz missions were also flown to Mir by the Russians and the station remained manned throughout the year. During 1997, Mir experienced a pair of emergencies which threatened the station. First, on February 24 a fire broke out in Kvant-1. Next, on June 24 a Progress spacecraft collided with Mir during a test puncturing the hull of Spektr and resulting in the module being sealed off.

Here are the cards for 1997, I hope you enjoy them.

#236 STS-81

#237 Soyuz TM-25

#238 STS-82

#239 STS-83

#240 STS-84

#241 STS-94

#242 Soyuz TM-26

#243 STS-85

#244 STS-86

#245 STS-87

posted 08-29-2019 10:30 AM               

As far as the ISS assembly, yes that is going to be part of this set. I plan on including it in much the same way as the Mir assembly. By that, I mean modules that were launched on unmanned rockets...will have their own card. For example, all the 1998 cards are already done and Zarya is #252. That is followed by STS-88 which delivered the Unity Module and connected them as card #253. The majority of the assembly of the station will be included with the respective shuttle mission that delivered the parts...but where that doesn't apply there will be an individual card.

In addition, each ISS expedition will be treated as its own mission and have its own card. For example (and these aren't completed yet...just thinking ahead)...STS-102 delivered the ISS-2 crew. STS-102 will have its own card documenting the mission, the exchange of crews and resupplying the station with the MPLM for the first time. That will immediately be followed by a card for ISS Expedition 2.

posted 09-04-2019 11:37 AM               

1998 saw the launch of 5 shuttle missions: 2 for Endeavour, 2 for Discovery, and 1 for Columbia. Atlantis was undergoing OMDP-2 during 1998.

Endeavour and Discovery each visited Mir for their first and only times concluding the Shuttle-Mir Program. Columbia would fly the final mission of the Spacelab Module. In the fall, Discovery launched John Glenn back into space.

The highlight of the year came in November when the Russians launched Zarya, the first component of the ISS. Shortly thereafter, Endeavour flew the final shuttle flight of the year delivery the first U.S. ISS Module "Unity" and connecting the U.S. and the Russian segments together in orbit. The beginning of the assembly of the ISS in late 1998 was the dawning of a new era of spaceflight.

For the Russians, 1998 was another year of the continuous manning of Mir. They would launch a pair of Mir expeditions (EO-25, EO-26) in 1998.

So, here are the cards for 1998:

#246 STS-89

#247 Soyuz TM-27

#248 STS-90

#249 STS-91

#250 Soyuz TM-28

#251 STS-95

#252 Zarya

#253 STS-88

posted 09-09-2019 05:27 PM               

On the U.S. side, the shuttle was flown three times. Discovery flew in May to dock with the ISS for the first time and deliver supplies and equipment to the station. Then, in July Columbia was launched to deploy the CRO. Due to delays resulting from launch issues during STS-93, the next shuttle flight didn't occur until December when Discovery flew a badly needed service mission to the Hubble Space Telescope.

Here are the cards:

#254 Soyuz TM-29

#255 STS-96

#256 STS-93

#257 STS-103

posted 09-18-2019 11:24 AM               

Before I do that though, I want to quickly note that I may be slowing down with this project going forward. Normally, I work on these cards between patients (I'm a dentist and own my own practice so I can do things like that) as I have time. Unfortunately for this project (but fortunately for my business) I have been far busier of late and as a result haven't been able to keep up with this project as I'd like to.

I'm going to try and keep doing weekly releases but I may have to skip a week here or there if I fall behind.

But, for now...here is 2000.

2000 saw five shuttle flights: 2 for Endeavour, 2 for Atlantis, 1 for Discovery. The first mission of the year, STS-99 was the only shuttle flight to not involve the ISS and would be the final non-ISS flight for Endeavour.

Russia saw two manned launches. The first was the final flight to Mir, a privately funded mission to refurbish the station for potential future commercial use.

Between manned launches, Russia launched the much delayed Zvezda Service Module, the final key module needed for the ISS before manning the station.

On October 31, 2000, Soyuz TM-31 launched carrying the first ISS resident crew. This began a new era of manned spaceflight and the ISS has been continually manned since.

Here are the cards for 2000:

#258 STS-99

#259 Soyuz TM-30

#260 STS-101

#261 Zvezda

#262 STS-106

#263 STS-92

#264 Soyuz TM-31

#265 ISS Expedition 1

#266 STS-97

posted 10-02-2019 12:58 PM               

2001 brought six shuttle missions all dedicated to the ISS. The station would be expended through the addition of Destiny Module, Quest Airlock, Pirs Module, and addition of the Canadaarm2. Three new ISS crews would call the station home and the Russians would fly a pair of Soyuz taxi missions...one of which would include the first self funded space tourist.

So, here are the cards:

#267 STS-98

#268 STS-102

#269 ISS Expedition 2

#270 STS-100

#271 Soyuz TM-32

#272 STS-104

#273 STS-105

#274 ISS Expedition 3

#275 Pirs

#276 Soyuz TM-33

#277 STS-108

#278 ISS Expedition 4

posted 10-17-2019 03:59 PM               

2002 saw five launches of the Space Shuttle with four of those missions destined for the ISS. The only exception being the STS-109 HST Servicing Mission. 2002 saw continued expansion of the ISS with the Integrated Truss Structure beginning to take shape. The shuttle also delivered the fifth and sixth ISS Expeditions.

Russia would fly a pair of Soyuz missions to supply the station with fresh emergency escape vehicles. The first Soyuz flight of 2002 was the final mission of the Soyuz TM spacecraft and the second was the first mission for the Soyuz TMA.

Here are the cards for 2002:

#279 STS-109

#280 STS-110

#281 Soyuz TM-34

#282 STS-111

#283 ISS Expedition 5

#284 STS-112

#285 Soyuz TMA-1

#286 STS-113

#287 ISS Expedition 6

posted 10-29-2019 11:37 AM               

2003 began with the tragic loss of the Space Shuttle Columbia. Due to the destruction of the orbiter and the loss of her crew, the shuttle fleet would be grounded for over two years. As a result, the Soyuz would become the primary method for ISS crews to reach the station, a situation that still exists to this day.

After the loss of Columbia, the ISS crew size was reduced to two-person "Caretaker" crews and the expansion of the station delayed. A pair of Soyuz TMA flights would ferry the ISS-7 and ISS-8 crews to the station.

Additionally, 2003 would bring a third nation into the manned spaceflight community. On October 15, 2003, China launched Shenzhou V which was their first manned spaceflight.

Here are the cards, I hope you enjoy them.

#288 STS-107

#289 Soyuz TMA-2

#290 ISS Expedition 7

#291 Shenzhou V

#292 Soyuz TMA-3

#293 ISS Expedition 8

posted 11-08-2019 09:34 AM               

So, here is 2004.

With the Space Shuttle fleet grounded, The Russian Soyuz TMA was the only path to the ISS. 2004 saw pair of Soyuz vehicles deliver two "caretaker" crews to the station as well as short term flight engineers from ESA and Russia.

In addition, 2004 saw the flight of the first privately funded spacecraft: SpaceShipOne. SpaceShipOne made three suborbital flights in 2004 winning the coveted Ansari X-Prize.

So, here is 2004. I hope you enjoy them.

#294 Soyuz TMA-4

#295 ISS Expedition 9

#296 SpaceShipOne Flight 15P

#297 SpaceShipOne Flight 16P

#298 SpaceShipOne Flight 17P

#299 Soyuz TMA-5

#300 ISS Expedition 10

posted 11-29-2019 10:11 AM               

Now, it's time for 2005.

2005 saw the continuation of "Caretaker" crews manning the ISS. A pair of Russian Soyuz TMA spacecraft delivered these crews to the station. In addition, Soyuz TMA-6 carried an ESA Astronaut researcher (who returned on TMA-5), and Soyuz TMA-7 carried a privately funded spaceflight participant (who returned on TMA-6).

The Space Shuttle made its return to flight with the launch of Discovery for STS-114. The shuttle resupplied the station and tested new procedures developed following STS-107. However, issues still remained and the shuttle would remain grounded.

China would also make in impact in 2005, launching their second manned mission Shenzhou VI... their first 2-man mission.

Here are the cards for 2005:

#301 Soyuz TMA-6

#302 ISS Expedition 11

#303 STS-114

#304 Soyuz TMA-7

#305 ISS Expedition 12

#306 Shenzhou VI

posted 01-08-2020 02:58 PM               

2006 began with the launch of Soyuz TMA-8 carrying the final ISS Caretaker crew to the ISS. The crew would be expanded back to three crewmembers by STS-121, the second and final return to flight shuttle mission. The Soyuz would continue to launch two ISS crewmembers and a spaceflight participant while the shuttle would rotate the third station crewmember until the ISS crew was expanded in 2009.

2006 say two Soyuz missions launched to rotate ISS crews and three space shuttle missions to rotate ISS crewmembers, resupply the station, and further expand the station.

Here are the cards for 2006:

#307 Soyuz TMA-8

#308 ISS Expedition 13

#309 STS-121

#310 STS-115

#311 Soyuz TMA-9

#312 ISS Expedition 14

#313 STS-116

posted 01-31-2020 08:35 AM               

A pair of Soyuz TMA missions ferried ISS crewmembers to and from the station. In addition, the Space Shuttle made three flights to the station to continue the station's assembly and resupply the orbital outpost. As in 2006, the shuttle was also responsible for rotating the third station crewmember.

#314 Soyuz TMA-10

#315 ISS Expedition 15

#316 STS-117

#317 STS-118

#318 Soyuz TMA-11

#319 ISS Expedition 16

#320 STS-120