|
|
Atlantis closes in on Mir
NASA approves full 10-day mission
September 17, 1996
Web posted at: 12:15 p.m. EDTHOUSTON (CNN) -- The space shuttle Atlantis was drawing closer to the Russian space station Mir Tuesday, on a mission to retrieve U.S. astronaut Shannon Lucid after six months in space.
CNN's John Holliman (9 sec./ 194K AIFF or WAV sound)
On Monday, NASA considered shortening the planned 10-day mission, when one of three auxiliary power units -- used to steer the craft on take-offs and landings -- failed.
But NASA rules were changed last June to allow a flight to continue with one failed unit if the other two are determined to be in perfect condition. And on Tuesday, NASA decided to allow the full mission.
The mission to retrieve Lucid and drop off her replacement, veteran astronaut John Blaha, has never been in doubt. But NASA could have decided to send Atlantis home early, shortening the five-day docking time astronauts were to use to transfer thousands of pounds of supplies and equipment to and from the space station.
Docking time changed to avoid sun in the eyes
NASA officials have moved the shuttle's scheduled docking time up by four minutes. Atlantis will join Mir in orbit at 11:13 p.m. EDT Wednesday night to keep the sun out of shuttle commander Bill Readdy's eyes while he performs the maneuver.
(13 sec./ 510K QuickTime movie showing what the docking looks like.)
On board both the shuttle and the station, astronauts were preparing for the docking. The Atlantis crew was to test a docking link-up system and fill drinking water containers for Mir's crew. Aboard Mir, Lucid was "doing some last-minute packing," according to NASA spokeswoman Kari Fluegel at Russia's mission control.
Lucid has been in space longer than any other American astronaut, and longer than any woman astronaut. She was originally scheduled to return in August, but problems with Atlantis's rocket boosters, followed by two hurricanes off the Florida coast, delayed the mission by nearly seven weeks.
Atlantis is set to return to Earth on September 26.
Correspondent John Holliman, The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
Related stories:
- Atlantis soars toward Mir - Sept. 16, 1996
- Astronaut Lucid to come home 'younger,' more patient - Sept. 12, 1996
Related sites:
Note: Pages will open in a new browser window
- CNN's Space Exploration Gallery
- NASA Shuttle/Mir: Shannon Lucid
- Space Station Mir Info Page
- NASA Shuttle STS-79 Mission Page
External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.
Tell us what you think!
You said it...
© 1996 Cable News Network, Inc.
All Rights Reserved.