Human Spaceflights

International Flight No. 185

STS-76

Atlantis (16)

USA

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Launch, orbit and landing data

Launch date:  22.03.1996
Launch time:  08:13 UTC
Launch site:  Cape Canaveral (KSC)
Launch pad:  39-B
Altitude:  296 km
Inclination:  51,6°
Docking MIR:  24.03.1996, 02:34:05 UTC
Undocking MIR:  29.03.1996, 01:08:03 UTC
Landing date:  31.03.1996
Landing time:  13:28 UTC
Landing site:  Edwards AFB

walkout photo

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Crew

No.   Surname Given names Position Flight No. Duration Orbits
1  Chilton  Kevin Patrick "Chilly"  CDR 3 9d 05h 16m  144 
2  Searfoss  Richard Alan  PLT 2 9d 05h 16m  144 
3  Sega  Ronald Michael  MSP 2 9d 05h 16m  144 
4  Clifford  Michael Richard Uram "Rich"  MSP 3 9d 05h 16m  144 
5  Godwin  Linda Maxine  MSP 3 9d 05h 16m  144 
6  Lucid  Shannon Matilda Wells  MSP 5 188d 04h 00m  2977 

Crew seating arrangement

Launch
1  Chilton
2  Searfoss
3  Sega
4  Clifford
5  Godwin
6  Lucid
Landing
1  Chilton
2  Searfoss
3  Godwin
4  Clifford
5  Sega
6  

Backup Crew

No.   Surname Given names Position
6  Blaha  John Elmer  MSP

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Flight

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 March 24, 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 Linda Godwin and Michael Clifford performed an EVA on March 27, 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. In Biorack, 11 separate scientific investigations were conducted. Study topics included effect of microgravity and cosmic radiation on plants, tissues, cells, bacteria and insects and effects of microgravity on bone loss. Also transferred to station were Mir Glovebox Stowage (MGBX) equipment to replenish glovebox already on station; Queen’s University Experiment in Liquid Diffusion (QUELD) flown in orbiter middeck locker; and High Temperature Liquid Phase Sintering (LPS) experiment.

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.

Other payloads: Shuttle Amateur Radio Experiment (SAREX); KidSat, a project that gives middle school students opportunity to participate in space exploration; and Trapped Ions in Space (TRIS), a Naval Research Laboratory experiment flown in Get Away Special canister in cargo bay.

Due to bad weather at the KSC the mission was extended one day and then diverted to the Edwards AFB

Note

Shannon Lucid landed on September 26, 1996 at 12:13 UTC with STS-79.

Photos / Drawings

 

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Last update on January 05, 2013.