Human Spaceflights

International Flight No. 189

STS-79

Atlantis (17)

USA

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Launch, orbit and landing data

Launch date:  16.09.1996
Launch time:  08:54 UTC
Launch site:  Cape Canaveral (KSC)
Launch pad:  39-A
Altitude:  315 - 394 km
Inclination:  51,6°
Docking MIR:  19.09.1996, 03:13:18 UTC
Undocking MIR:  24.09.1996, 01:31:34 UTC
Landing date:  26.09.1996
Landing time:  12:13 UTC
Landing site:  Cape Canaveral (KSC)

walkout photo

alternate crew photo

alternate crew photo

Crew

No.   Surname Given names Position Flight No. Duration Orbits
1  Readdy  William Francis "Bill"  CDR 3 10d 03h 19m  160 
2  Wilcutt  Terrence Wade  PLT 2 10d 03h 19m  160 
3  Apt  Jerome "Jay"  MSP 4 10d 03h 19m  160 
4  Akers  Thomas Dale  MSP 4 10d 03h 19m  160 
5  Walz  Carl Erwin  MSP 3 10d 03h 19m  160 
6  Blaha  John Elmer  MSP 5 128d 05h 28m  2027 

Crew seating arrangement

Launch
1  Readdy
2  Wilcutt
3  Apt
4  Akers
5  Walz
6  Blaha
Landing
1  Readdy
2  Wilcutt
3  Walz
4  Akers
5  Apt
6  Lucid

Backup Crew

No.   Surname Given names Position
6  Linenger  Jerry Michael  MSP

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Flight

Launch from Cape Canaveral (KSC); landing on Cape Canaveral (KSC).

STS-79 carried the fourth Shuttle-MIR docking mission. Following a two day solo flight the Atlantis docked with the MIR space station on September 19, 1996. Common mission with the 22nd MIR resident crew (September 19, - September 24, 1996). Main goal of the mission was the partly crew exchange of the MIR resident crew (Shannon Lucid returned to Earth with STS-79 and John Blaha remained on MIR together with the 22nd MIR resident crew).

During her approximately six-month stay on MIR, Shannon Lucid conducted research in the following fields: advanced technology, Earth sciences, fundamental biology, human life sciences, microgravity research and space sciences. Specific experiments included: Environmental Radiation Measurements to ascertain ionizing radiation levels aboard MIR; Greenhouse-Integrated Plant Experiments, to study effect of microgravity on plants, specifically dwarf wheat; and Assessment of Humoral Immune Function During Long-Duration Space Flight, to gather data on effect of long-term spaceflight on the human immune system and involving collection of blood serum and saliva samples. Some of this research was conducted in the newest and final MIR module, Priroda, which arrived at station during Shannon Lucids stay

1,8 tons supplies and equipment were also transferred between the MIR and the Shuttle including an IMAX camera. STS-79 also marked the second flight of the SPACEHAB module in support of Shuttle-MIR activities and first flight of SPACEHAB Double Module configuration. The forward portion of the double module housed experiments conducted by the crew before, during and after Atlantis is docked to the Russian space station. The aft portion of the double module housed the logistics equipment to be transferred to the Russian space station.

Note

John Blaha returned to Earth on January 22, 1997 at 14:23 UTC with STS-81.

Photos / Drawings

 

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Last update on January 05, 2013.