Space Station Timeline

In 1984, after several years of research and lobbying by NASA, President Ronald Reagan announced plans for the international space station.

In 1998, the crew of the space shuttle Endeavour carried the first U.S.-built component into space. Future components will be continuously sent up on dozens of trips by U.S. space shuttles and Russian Soyuz rockets.

Jan. 25, 1984
"Tonight I am directing NASA to develop a permanently manned space station and to do it within a decade." So said Reagan in his State of the Union message. NASA estimates the cost at $8 billion.

June 1984
Reagan invites Japan, Canada and European allies to participate in the construction and operation of the space station. Eventually, 16 nations join the project.

March 1985
NASA selects six private industry engineering teams to begin advanced definition and design studies on the space station.

Jan. 28, 1986
Shuttle Challenger explodes after takeoff. The space station program continues but is slowed by the subsequent moratorium on space flight. NASA had planned on using shuttle flights to research space station construction.

CBS

Russian space station Mir

Feb. 20, 1986
Russians launch space station Mir.

April 1987
NASA revises the design to focus on a smaller scale station, with an estimated cost of $14 billion. The National Research Council puts the cost at $24 billion.

September 1988
Shuttle fights resume with Discovery. Also in September, NASA delays first launch for space station to 1995 and estimates new cost at $25 billion.

September 1991
NASA redesigns station to make it cheaper, smaller and easier to build. The space agency estimates the new cost at $30 billion.

1991-1992
The space station project survives several close votes in Congress. On June 6, 1991 the House voted to overturn an Appropriations Committee vote to cancel the project.

September 1993
Russia becomes a partner, and NASA aims for 1997 launch. Russia agrees to produce and launch several modules; NASA will provide shuttle flights to Mir.

February 1997
NASA delays first launch to 1998 because of Russian funding troubles.

June 1998
NASA administrator Daniel Goldin tells Congress that the cost is approaching $25 billion, well over the $17 billion budget.

AP

Russian Proton Rocket launches Zarya

November 20, 1998
Russian Proton rocket launches Zarya module into orbit. The Zarya module will provide control capability, fuel storage, and power throughout the early assembly stages.

December 3, 1998
Space shuttle Endeavor is launched with the first U.S. built component, Unity. Unity provides two pressurized mating adapters to connect U.S. and Russian elements and a shuttle docking location.

1999
At least seven shuttle flights for the space station are scheduled for 1999. Major stages include the service module which is the primary Russian contribution and the early station living quarters. Communications systems and docking support are to be installed in mid-1999.

Early 2000
Tentative arrival of the first permanent human presence on the space station. A Russian Soyuz rocket will transport Commander Bill Shepherd, Soyuz Commander Yuri Gidzenko and Flight Engineer Sergei Krikalev. The Soyuz rocket provides Russian assured crew return capability with out the Space Shuttle present.

Mid-2000
The U.S. laboratory module will be in place, providing initial U.S. user capability.

An Italian built logistical module will be installed in the U.S. lab, followed by a UHF antenna to provide space-to-space communications for U.S. based spacewalks. A portion of a Canadian built mechanical arm needed to perform future assembly operations is also scheduled to arrive.

Late 2001 to 2002
The Japanese laboratory module is scheduled to be launched.

2003
European Space Agency laboratory module to be launched.

2004
The U.S. Habitation module is to be launched, and the International Space Station completed.