Launch from Cape Canaveral (
KSC); landing on
Edwards
AFB. A small leak
of hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic system was discovered, but no Minimum
Duration Flight was necessary.
Following a two day solo flight the
Atlantis docked with the MIR space station on 24.03.1996. Shannon
Lucid became member of the
21st resident crew
onboard the MIR (as research cosmonaut).
During the common-flight of
STS-76 and MIR
Godwin and
Clifford performed an
EVA on
27.03.1996 (6h 2m) to attach the MIR Environmental Effects Payload (
MEEP),
including 4 different experiments, onto handrails located on the MIR Docking
Module.
During five days of docked operations, about 1,500 pounds (680
kilograms) of water and two tons of scientific equipment, logistical material
and resupply items transferred to MIR; experiment samples and miscellaneous
equipment brought over to orbiter. After 5 days of common flight the separation
happened.
Payload bay configuration included Orbiter Docking System in
forward area and SPACEHAB single module toward the aft. STS-76 marked first
flight of SPACEHAB pressurized module to support Shuttle-MIR dockings; single
module primarily served as stowage area for large supply of equipment slated
for transfer to space station, but also carried European Space Agency’s
Biorack experiment rack for on-orbit research.
Due to bad weather at the
KSC the mission was
extended one day and then diverted to the Edwards
AFB
