#sts-79

NASA ID: KSC-96EC-0997

John Blaha (born 26 August 1942)

Shannon Lucid (born 14 January 1943)

Thomas Akers (born St. Louis, MO, 20 May 1951)

John Blaha (born 26 August 1942)

The Space Shuttle Atlantis launched on its 17th mission on 16 September 1996. STS-79 was a 10-day mission included the first rendezvous with the completed Russian Mir space station and the retrieval of American astronaut Shannon Lucid after 188 days in space. Mission Specialist John Blaha replaced Lucid and remained aboard Mir for 4 months.

STS-79 Destacking in VAB by NASA on The Commons Via Flickr: A vantage point from far above yields a dramatic view of an orbiter being demated from its stack inside the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). The approximately 171,000 pound (77,566 kilogram) Orbiter is being hoisted by crane up and away from the 184 foot (56 meter) tall external tank/solid rocket booster stack. The vehicle was tilted to fit through an opening 190 feet (58 meters) above the ground, then lowered to the VAB transfer aisle and installed atop the orbiter transporter. This photograph was taken from the 34th level of the VAB; the operator cabin of the crane is located one level above. After a return visit to the Orbiter Processing Facility, Atlantis was brought back to the VAB and mated to a new external tank/booster stack. It lifted off on Mission STS-79 on September 16, 1996. Image # : 96PC-0955 Date: August 2, 1996

Overhead View of Atlantis Stack Rollover  The Space Shuttle Atlantis begins the slow journey to Launch Pad 39A from the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). This dramatic view looking directly down onto the Shuttle atop the Mobile Launcher Platform (MLP) and crawler-transporter was taken from the VAB roof approximately 525 feet (160 meters) above the ground. Atlantis lifted off on Mission STS-79 on September 16, 1996. Image # : 96PC-0997 Date: August 20, 1996