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The process of catching Mir is called the "rendezvous".  Once the shuttle is close to Mir, and the two spacecraft are in very nearly the same orbit, the Shuttle begins its slow final approach.  During this phase, which takes about an hour, the shuttle uses its small jets to ease toward Mir.  Laser radars on the shuttle determine how far away Mir is.  The shuttle closes the final 30 feet very slowly, using TV cameras to help line up the docking module in its payload bay with the docking port on Mir.  The two spacecraft dock with the space shuttle moving toward Mir at only about 2 inches per second!

Once the two spacecraft are docked, the astronauts in the shuttle and Mir each open the hatches that connect them.  When the hatches are open, the astronauts can float through the short tunnel, and go from one spacecraft to the other.

A Russian Cosmonaut (left) & American Astronaut
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The space shuttle and Mir stay joined together for 4 or 5 days. During that time, the astronauts transfer equipment, food, water, and experiments between the shuttle and Mir.  The shuttle transports experiments performed on Mir back down to Earth.  The shuttle also transports astronauts between the Earth and Mir.

When the space shuttle is ready to leave, it undocks from Mir, and slowly backs away.  Once the two spacecraft are safely separated, the shuttle will stay in orbit for another 2 or 3 days before returning to Earth.

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