Launch from Cape Canaveral (KSC); landing on Cape Canaveral (KSC). The launch was scheduled for November 11, 1995 but was cancelled due to bad weather.

Following a two day solo flight the Atlantis docked with MIR on November 15, 1995. It was the second docking with the MIR space station. A docking adapter was as payload in the cargo bay and was leaved on MIR. Joint scientific work with 20th resident crew of the MIR. During the three day docking, the Russian, Canadian and American astronauts transferred various supplies from Atlantis to MIR, along with two new solar arrays (one Russian and one jointly developed) to upgrade MIR, moved several long-term experiments, pieces of equipment and manufactured products from MIR to the Atlantis.

Meanwhile, flying aboard Atlantis was the GPP payload which consisted of two experiments – the GPP experiment and the Photogrammetric Appendage Structural Dynamics Experiment (PASDE). The payload was managed by Goddard Space Flight Center's Special Payloads Division. The GPP studied the Earth's thermosphere, ionosphere and mesosphere energetics and dynamics using broadband spectroscopy. GPP also studied spacecraft interactions with the atmosphere by observing shuttle and Mir glow, shuttle engine firings, water dumps and fuel cell purges.

Three PASDE canisters, located throughout the cargo bay, also photogrammetrically recorded structural response data of the MIR solar arrays during the docked phase of the mission. This data was later analyzed on the ground to verify the use of photogrammetric techniques to characterize the structural dynamics of the array, thus demonstrating that this technology would result in cost and risk reduction for the International Space Station.

After three days of common flight, the separation occured and the crew returned home.