STS-79

Launched: September 16, 1996, 4:54:49 am EDT

Landing: September 26, 1996, 8:13:15 am ED, Kennedy Space Center, Florida

Space Shuttle: Atlantis

Crew: William F. Readdy (Commander), Terrence W. Wilcutt (Pilot), Thomas D. Akers (Mission Specialist), John E. Blaha (Mission Specialist), Jay Apt (Mission Specialist) and Carl E. Walz (Mission Specialist)

 

STS-79 highlighted by return to Earth of U.S. astronaut Lucid after 188 days in space, first U.S. crew exchange aboard Russian Space Station Mir, and fourth Shuttle-Mir docking. Lucid’s long-duration spaceflight set new U.S. record as well as world record for a woman. During five days of mated operations, two crews transferred more than 4,000 pounds (1,814 kilograms) of supplies to Mir, including logistics, food and water generated by orbiter fuel cells, and three experiments. STS-79 also marked second flight of SPACEHAB module in support of Shuttle-Mir activities and first flight of SPACEHAB Double Module configuration.

 

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Credit: NASA

Image Number: sts79-s-001

Date: April 1996

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