This book is an example of what may become the norm for history texts -- an illustrated narrative accompanied by a CD-ROM.

The text tells the story from the human side. It is based on reflections and quotes from the astronauts, cosmonauts, and team members who participated in the historic partnership. The main chapters give the perspectives of the seven U.S. astronauts living on Mir. The "STS boxes" share the Space Shuttle crews' experiences from the 11 Shuttle-Mir missions. The "Meanwhile on Earth" sections provide details of what was happening on Earth while the attention of the Program focused on the situations in space. The text reflects conventional usage: that is, temperature is given in degrees Fahrenheit, and metrics are used as appropriate.

While this publication provides an accurate overview of the Shuttle-Mir Program, the reader is encouraged to explore the companion CD-ROM. It contains a complete, searchable text of the book itself plus source publications, mission data, status reports, drawings and illustrations, videos and hundreds of images, and even a virtual Shuttle-Mir children's book. Of particular interest are the Shuttle Mir oral history transcripts and the letters written by American astronauts while they were in residence on the Russian space station. Many of the quotes in Shuttle-Mir: The U.S. and Russia Share History's Highest Stage came from sources located on the CD-ROM.

The reader is invited to explore the Shuttle-Mir story through the words, images, and insights of those who took part in it.