Table of Contents

Daily Reports

November 11, 1995

Hadfield Launch Delayed by Weather

CSA - Kennedy Space Center - Florida

Space Shuttle Atlantis, STS-74 mission to the Russian Space Station Mir, missed its launch window scheduled for 7:56 AM EST today due to weather. Officials of the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) expressed confidence that the mission will be launched at the earliest opportunity.

Major Chris Hadfield and his four American crewmates returned to crew quarters to make ready for another attempt tomorrow.

Mac Evans, President of the CSA, said: "We are sure that our partners at NASA will be ready to take advantage of good weather when it happens."

New launch date: November 12, 7:30 am

Day 1 - November 12, 1995

Successful Launch! Atlantis Lifts Off with Canada's First Mission Specialist Aboard!

CSA - Kennedy Space Center - Florida

Space Shuttle Atlantis lifted off today at precisely 7:30:43 a.m. EST from the Kennedy Space Center. Mission STS- 74 executed a perfect lift off with Canada’s first Mission Specialist, Major Chris Hadfield, among the crew members.

Major Hadfield and his crew members will fly in orbit for eight days at an inclination of 51.60 degrees, joining with the Russian space station Mir for a total of three days. Hadfield will use the Canadarm and the Canadian Space Vision System, as well as an on-board IMAX camera during the mission to assemble the Orbiter Docking System (ODS) with a Russian-built docking module (DM). The DM, with attached solar arrays will be left behind on Mir to facilitate docking on later missions.

"It’s exciting to watch a successful launch and know one of the people inside," said the Honourable John Manley, Minister of Industry, representing the Canadian government. "We are all proud to see that Canada is playing such an important role in this international endeavour," he added.

Senior officials of the Canadian Space Agency were also at the launch. "It was breathtaking to see Chris and the crew get off the ground. All of us at the CSA are proud today to be a part of this continuing quest to conquer space," said Mr. Mac Evans, President of the Canadian Space Agency.

The docking of the orbiter to Mir is scheduled to occur on flight day four of the mission (November 15). The insertion altitude for the docking manoeuvres will be 160 nautical miles with a rendezvous altitude of 213 nautical miles. Once docked, the Mission STS-74 crew will visit the cosmonauts on Mir bringing them needed supplies and scientific experiments.

Canadian astronauts are actively involved in NASA’s Space Shuttle program. Mission STS-74 is the second in a planned series of seven Shuttle-to-Mir missions leading to the assembly of the International Space Station.

Day 2 - November 13, 1995

Canadian Technology at its Best on Board Atlantis

CSA-Johnson Space Center - Houston
Chris Hadfield used several different pieces of Canadian Technology today to assemble successfully the Orbiter Docking System on-board the Shuttle Atlantis. Combining his own manual dexterity with the elegantly simple concept of the Space Vision System (SVS) and the Canadarm, Hadfield mated the Russian-built Docking Module to the shuttle. The World-famous IMAX camera system was also used to monitor and record the event.

The assembly was completed at 2:17 a.m. EST while Atlantis was over Eastern Europe during its 30th orbit in this eight-day mission. Hadfield was assisted by each of his crewmates during the intricate and challenging manoeuvre Commander Cameron fired the shuttle’s thrusters to ram the orbiter into the latches on the docking module. The SVS provides the Canadarm with its eyes. During Mission STS-74, Major Hadfield will control the Canadarm using guidance information from the SVS. He will also test the accuracy and use of the more sophisticated Advanced Space Vision System (ASVS) to guide the intricate berthing operation. The success of this mission will pave the way for ASVS to assist in the increasing sophisticated tasks of building the International Space Station.

Conceived 20 years ago by Dr. Lloyd Pinckney of the National Research Council of Canada, one of the precursors to the Canadian Space Agency, the SVS enhances astronauts’ vision in the difficult viewing conditions of space. Its use provides the exact location, orientation and motion of a specified object. The SVS was first tested three years ago on flight STS-52 by Dr. Steve MacLean, now Director General of the Astronaut Program.

Mission Specialist Chris Hadfield is the first Canadian to operate the Canadarm in space. He used it to pick-up the Russian-built Docking Module (DM) from the shuttle’s payload bay. The Canadarm, manufactured by Spar Aerospace of Toronto, Canada, is a valuable and successful robotic tool contributed by Canada to the U. S. Shuttle program; its first flight was aboard the shuttle Columbia during mission STS-3 in March, 1982.

Atlantis is approaching Mir with every orbit. A series of rendezvous jet firing will refine the closing rate, leading up to the docking with the Russian Space Station at 1:27 a.m. EST Wednesday.

Mission STS-74 is the second in NASA’s series of seven Shuttle-to-Mir space missions working towards the assembly of the International Space Station. Atlantis launched from Kennedy Space Center on Sunday, November 12 and is scheduled to last eight days, five hours, with landing slated for November 20 at 12:32 EST.

Day 3 - November 14, 1995

A Canadian Aboard Mir: Space Shuttle Atlantis Docks Successfully to the
Russian Space Station

CSA-Johnson Space Center - Houston
Today, at precisely 1:27 a.m. EST, the Space Shuttle Atlantis docked to the Russian Space Station Mir as the two spacecraft sped around the Earth. After all checks were completed and the hatches were opened, the two crews greeted each other and Major Chris Hadfield became the first Canadian to board the Russian Space Station.

The tension was high aboard Atlantis as Commander Cameron manoeuvred the shuttle towards the Russian Space Station. Using the shuttle’s thrusters to approach Mir, he docked to the Kristall Science Module, creating a bridge between the two spacecraft. The intensive and strenuous training of the past 13 months has paid off. The delicate operation was fautless.

"I cannot imagine what Major Hadfield and his fellow crew members felt at that moment. They have all worked very hard to accomplish what they did today. We are proud of their success, and Canadians everywhere are very proud of Chris Hadfield," said the Honourable John Manley, Minister of Industry Canada.

Mission Specialist Hadfield, who operated the Canadarm to install the Russian-built Docking Module (DM) onto the shuttle docking system, also carried out the procedures which finally allowed the hatch to be opened by Commander Cameron. This was followed by handshakes and hugs by both crews.

A traditional gift exchange took place with flowers and chocolates. For his part, Hadfield presented the Mir occupants with Canadian maple sugar candies, and a collapsible classical guitar. Prior to return to Earth, completed scientific experiment from earlier Mir missions will be transferred to the shuttle.

The American Shuttle will remain docked to the Russian Station on this mission; while the Atlantis crew tranfers food, water, and scientific supplies to the Mir crew. The scientific supplies and experiments will be used by the Mir cosmonauts during their remaining four months in orbit. After three days aboard Mir, Commander Cameron will execute the undocking manoeuvres leaving the Russian-built DM behind for future Shuttle-to-Mir missions.

Major Chris Hadfield became the fourth Canadian to travel on the shuttle when Atlantis lifted off on its rendezvous mission with Mir on Sunday, November 12, 1995. As the first Canadian Mission Specialist to fly, Hadfield is also the first Canadian to operate the world-famous Canadarm in space and the first Canadian to board the Russian Space Station.

Day 4 - November 15, 1995

International Nature of Mission Highlighted by Congratulatory Phone Calls from Around the Globe!

CSA - Johnson Space Center-Houston

Congratulatory phone calls by NASA Administrator Daniel Goldin, Russian Premier Chernomyrdin, and the Honourable John Manley, Minister of Industry Canada and Minister Responsible for the Canadian Space Agency underscore the unprecedented international cooperation exhibited by this mission.

Speaking from Moscow, Premier Chernomyrdin phoned the crews early this morning and praised them for their successful collaboration, and asked Chris Hadfield to play the guitar for him.

Minister John Manley spoke to Chris Hadfield from Hamilton, Ontario at noon, EST, echoing the sentiments expressed by Mr. Goldin, and congratulating Hadfleld on a job well-done. Minister Manley read questions from children from across Canada, who have been inspired by Hadfield's accomplishments.

Day 8 - November 20, 1995

Hadfield's First Space Mission: A Success!

CSA - Kennedy Space Center-Florida. At 2 minutes and 24 seconds past noon EST on Monday November 20, Space Shuttle Atlantis landed at the Kennedy Space Center Shuttle Landing Facility. Mission STS-74 was an outstanding success and Chris Hadfield played a key role.

On Day-7 of the mission, the shuttle started its descent. Following the undocking procedures, Commander Cameron separated Atlantis from Mir with a 3-foot per second retrograde burn. Earth’s gravity helped pull the shuttle towards its centre bringing the craft back. Commander Cameron was in control of Atlantis while the rest of the crew remained alert in case of emergencies.

"The voyage home is always very stressful," said the Honourable John Manley, Minister of Industry. "We were all very anxious to see them land safely and proclaim this mission a true success."

Mission STS-74's main goal was to attach the Russian-built Docking Module (DM) onto Mir’s Krystall Science Module. This new module will enable future Shuttle-to-Mir missions to dock with the station more easily. Major Hadfield’s role was critical. With colleague American astronaut Bill McArthur and using Canada’s unique space tool, the Canadarm, he eased the DM out off the payload bay fixing it onto the shuttle and making it possible for the docking operations to pursue.

Canadian astronauts are actively involved in NASA’s Space mission program. Mission STS-74 was the second in NASA’s series of seven Shuttle-to-Mir missions leading towards the assembly of the International Space Station. Major Hadfield, as Canada’s first Mission Specialist to fly, also had the honour of being the first Canadian on board the Russian Space Station Mir.