This week in 1995, space shuttle Atlantis, mission STS-71, launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. STS-71 marked the first time the shuttle and the Russian space station Mir docked. It was also the first on-orbit changeout of shuttle crew. In this photo taken by the Mir crew, Atlantis is still connected to the Mir station. For the next five days, joint U.S.-Russian operations conducted about 100 hours of science experiments, including biomedical investigations, and transfer of equipment to and from Mir. Fifteen separate biomedical and scientific investigations were conducted using the Spacelab module installed in the aft portion of Atlantis’ payload bay, and covering seven different disciplines: cardiovascular and pulmonary functions; human metabolism; neuroscience; hygiene, sanitation and radiation; behavioral performance and biology; fundamental biology; and microgravity research. The Spacelab missions were managed by NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. The NASA History Program is responsible for generating, disseminating, and preserving NASA’s remarkable history and providing a comprehensive understanding of the institutional, cultural, social, political, economic, technological and scientific aspects of NASA’s activities in aeronautics and space. For more pictures like this one and to connect to NASA’s history, visit the Marshall History Program’s webpage. (NASA)