Human Spaceflights

International Flight No. 191

STS-81

Atlantis (18)

USA

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Launch, orbit and landing data

Launch date:  12.01.1997
Launch time:  09:27 UTC
Launch site:  Cape Canaveral (KSC)
Launch pad:  39-B
Altitude:  296 km
Inclination:  51,60°
Docking MIR:  15.01.1997, 03:54:49 UTC
Undocking MIR:  20.01.1997, 02:15:44 UTC
Landing date:  22.01.1997
Landing time:  14:23 UTC
Landing site:  Cape Canaveral (KSC)

walkout photo

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alternate crew photo

alternate crew photo

alternate crew photo

Crew

No.   Surname Given names Position Flight No. Duration Orbits
1  Baker  Michael Allen  CDR 4 10d 04h 56m  160 
2  Jett  Brent Ward, Jr.  PLT 2 10d 04h 56m  160 
3  Wisoff  Peter Jeffrey Kelsay "Jeff"  MSP 3 10d 04h 56m  160 
4  Grunsfeld  John Mace  MSP 2 10d 04h 56m  160 
5  Ivins  Marsha Sue  MSP 4 10d 04h 56m  160 
6  Linenger  Jerry Michael  MSP 2 132d 04h 01m  2091 

Crew seating arrangement

Launch
1  Baker
2  Jett
3  Wisoff
4  Grunsfeld
5  Ivins
6  Linenger
Landing
1  Baker
2  Jett
3  Ivins
4  Grunsfeld
5  Wisoff
6  Blaha

Backup Crew

No.   Surname Given names Position
6  Foale  Colin Michael  MSP

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Flight

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

STS-81 marked the fifth MIR mission. Following a two day solo flight the Atlantis docked with the MIR space station on January 15, 1997. The crews performed five days of common flight (January 15, - January 20, 1997). Jerry Linenger replaced John Blaha as member of the 22nd MIR resident crew.

Atlantis carried the SPACEHAB double module providing additional middeck locker space for secondary experiments. During the five days of docked operations with MIR, the crews transferred water and supplies from one spacecraft to the other. A spacewalk by Jerry Linenger and one by his Russian cosmonaut crewmates occurred after the departure of Atlantis.

STS-81 was involved in the transfer of 2,710 kilograms (6,000 lb) of logistics to and from the MIR, the largest transfer of items to date. During the docked phase, 635 kilograms (1,400 lb) of water, 516.1 kilograms (1,138 lb) of U.S. science equipment, 1,000.7 kilograms (2,206 lb) of Russian logistics along with 121.7 kilograms (268 lb) of miscellaneous material was transferred to MIR. Returned to Earth aboard Atlantis was 570.0 kilograms (1,257 lb) of U.S. science material, 404.5 kilograms (892 lb) of Russian logistics and 97.3 kilograms (215 lb) of miscellaneous material.

The STS-81 mission included several experiments in the fields of advanced technology, Earth sciences, fundamental biology, human life sciences, microgravity, and space sciences. It was hoped that data would supply insight for the planning and development of the International Space Station, Earth-based sciences of human and biological processes, and the advancement of commercial technology.

Following the undocking the Atlantis made a flyaround of the MIR space station.

Note

Jerry Linenger landed on May 24, 1997 at 13:28 UTC with STS-84.

Photos / Drawings


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Last update on July 29, 2012.