CNN - Atlantis speeds toward Mir after early morning launch

Atlantis speeds toward Mir after early morning launch

March 22, 1996
Web posted at: 6:20 a.m. EST

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Florida (CNN) -- The space shuttle Atlantis took off toward the Russian space station Mir Friday morning, ferrying astronaut Shannon Lucid to her home for the next five months.

"Have a very pleasant stay on the Mir, Shannon," Mission Control told the 53-year-old biochemist making her fifth flight on the shuttle.

Atlantis' launch was delayed from Thursday because of high winds, but Friday's 3:13 a.m. EST launch went smoothly. (945K QuickTime movie)

Technicians, however, discovered a small leak in an Auxiliary Power Unit during the launch. The leak, which appears to have sealed itself, was in one of three APUs. The shuttle needs only one operational APU for launch or landing, and NASA is evaluating the problem and possible remedies.

Atlantis is scheduled to dock with Mir Saturday evening, where the crew will unload supplies and remain docked for five days. The two crews will conduct some joint experiments during that time.

Lucid is the second U.S. astronaut to stay aboard Mir, and the first to be taken to the space station by the shuttle. (119K AIFF sound or 119K WAV sound) Plans call for five more NASA astronauts to live on Mir, one at a time, over the next two years. By that time, construction should begin on an international space station, where Russian cosmonauts and U.S. astronauts will live and work full time.

While Atlantis is docked to Mir, crew members Rich Clifford and Linda Godwin will take a walk in space -- the first time a spacewalk will take place while the shuttle is docked to Mir -- to attach scientific experiments to the outside of the station.

Atlantis is scheduled to return to Kennedy Space Center at about 7:30 a.m. EST on March 31.

Related stories:

STS-76 Atlantis mission page
High winds delay shuttle launch
Astronaut Lucid set for cultural changes aboard Mir

Feedback

Send us your comments.
Selected responses are posted daily.

Atlantis speeds toward Mir after early morning launch

Related stories:

Feedback

| CONTENTS | SEARCH | CNN HOME PAGE | MAIN TECHNOLOGY PAGE |