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Atlantis was launched on a mission to the Russian Mir space station. The TI rendevous terminal initiation burn was carried out at 17:32 GMT on September 27, and Atlantis docked with the SO (Docking Module) on the Mir complex at 19:58 GMT. The crew exchange was completed on September 28, with David Wolf replacing Michael Foale on the Mir crew. On October 1 cosmonaut Titov and astronaut Parazynski conducted a spacewalk from the Shuttle payload bay while Atlantis was docked to Mir. They retrieved four MEEP (Mir Environmental Effects Payload ) exposure packages from Mir's SO module and installed the Spektr solar array cap. The MEEP experiments had been attached to the Docking Module by astronauts Linda Godwin and Rich Clifford during Shuttle mission STS-76 in March 1996. In addition to retrieving the MEEP, Parazynski and Titov were to continue an evaluation of the Simplified Aid For EVA Rescue (SAFER), a small jet-backpack designed for use as a type of life jacket during station assembly.
Atlantis undocked from Mir at 17:28 GMT on October 3 and conducted a flyaround focused on the damaged Spektr Module to determine the location of the puncture in its hull. The Mir crew pumped air into the Spektr Module using a pressure regulator valve, and the Shuttle crew observed evidence that, as expected, the leak seemed to be located at the base of the damaged solar panel. Final separation of Atlantis from Mir took place around 20:28 GMT. After two landing attempts were waved off on October 5 due to heavy cloud cover, the crew fired the engines to deorbit at 20:47 GMT on October 6 and landed at Kennedy Space Center at 21:55.
As of 20:06 GMT, the Shuttle took attitude control of the entire Mir complex. At 19:30 GMT Commander Solovyev opened the Mir hatch, and after equalization of pressure Commander Wetherbee opened the Shuttle hatch at 19:45 GMT, presenting the most welcome gift of Mir's new Motion Control Computer.
Titov and Parazynski entered the Shuttle payload bay on October 1 while Atlantis was docked to Mir. The airlock was depressurized at around 17:25 GMT and the astronauts emerged from the hatch on the tunnel adapter at around 17:35 GMT. They retrieved the four MEEP (Mir Environmental Effects Payload ) exposure packages from Mir's SO module and installed the Spektr solar array cap. The experiments were attached to the Docking Module by astronauts Linda Godwin and Rich Clifford during Shuttle mission STS-76 in March 1996. The MEEP packages investigate effects of exposure to the space environment on a variety of materials. The solar array cap was too large to be transferred through Mir, and is needed to seal off the base of the damaged array on Spektr if and when the array is jettisoned by cosmonauts. In addition to retrieving the MEEP, Parazynski and Titov were to continue an evaluation of the Simplified Aid For EVA Rescue (SAFER), a small jet-backpack designed for use as a type of life jacket during station assembly. The airlock was repressurized at 22:31 GMT.
Atlantis undocked from Mir at 17:28 GMT on October 3, leaving Dave Wolf aboard the station and bringing Mike Foale home. Just after undocking, the Shuttle continued to back away through a corridor similar to that used during approach with periodic stops to "stationkeep" in order to collect data for the European laser docking sensor. Atlantis backed away in this manner until it reached a distance of 190 m below the Mir. The shuttle then moved back to within 70 m of the station and conducted a flyaround focused on the damaged Spektr Module to determine the location of the puncture in its hull. The Mir crew pumped air into the Spektr Module using a pressure regulator valve, and the Shuttle crew observed evidence that, as expected, the leak seemed to be located at the base of the damaged solar panel. A cap delivered by the Atlantis crew was designed to repair this puncture. Final separation of Atlantis from Mir took place around 20:28 GMT.
Cargo Bay Payloads:
In-Cabin Payloads: RME's; KidSat; CPCG; CREAM; CCM-A; MSX; SIMPLEX
Developmental Test Objectives
Detailed Supplementary Objectives
Risk Mitigation Experiments
Payload And Vehicle Weights: Orbiter (Atlantis) empty and 3 SSME's; 69,000 kg; Shuttle System at SRB Ignition: 2,047,561 kg; Orbiter Weight at Landing with Cargo: 114,163 kg; Spacehab: 6,551 kg. References: 4 , 7 , 276 .