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Space Shuttle Atlantis Returns to Kennedy Space Center After Landmark Mission — On This Day in 1995

By  //  November 20, 2025

November 20, 1995

On this day in 1995, Space Shuttle Atlantis rolled to a stop on the runway at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, completing a successful and historic eight-day journey in orbit. The mission, designated STS-74, marked a major milestone in the Shuttle-Mir Project—an ambitious collaboration between the United States and Russia that paved the way for the International Space Station (ISS).

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – On this day in 1995, Space Shuttle Atlantis rolled to a stop on the runway at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, completing a successful and historic eight-day journey in orbit. The mission, designated STS-74, marked a major milestone in the Shuttle-Mir Project—an ambitious collaboration between the United States and Russia that paved the way for the International Space Station (ISS).

Launched on November 12, 1995, STS-74 was Atlantis’s second docking mission with the Russian space station Mir. The mission’s primary objective was the delivery and installation of a specially designed docking module. This module enabled future shuttle missions to more easily connect with the orbiting station, improving operational flexibility and setting the stage for routine international cooperation in space.

During their time in orbit, Commander Kenneth Cameron and his crew—Pilot James Halsell and Mission Specialists Chris Hadfield, Jerry Ross, and Bill McArthur—successfully attached the docking module, transferred supplies, and conducted joint operations with their Russian counterparts aboard Mir. Their work advanced not only engineering capabilities but also diplomatic ties during a transformative era for human spaceflight.

As Atlantis glided home, the mission was hailed as a triumph of teamwork and vision. STS-74 proved that nations could work side-by-side in space, laying crucial groundwork for what would soon become the largest multinational scientific and engineering project in history: the ISS.

Today, the mission stands as a reminder of the progress made when countries collaborate beyond Earth’s boundaries—pushing the limits of exploration and strengthening partnerships that continue to shape the future of spaceflight.