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.