 STS-79 commander Readdy (left) and Mir EO-22 commander Korzun (right) in Mir's Docking Module | |
| Mission type | Shuttle–Mir program |
|---|---|
| Operator | NASA |
| COSPAR ID | 1996-057A |
| SATCAT no. | 24324 |
| Mission duration | 10 days, 3 hours, 18 minutes and 24 seconds |
| Distance travelled | 6,300,000 km (3,900,000 mi) |
| Orbits completed | 160 |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft | Space Shuttle Atlantis |
| Crew | |
| Crew size | 6 |
| Members | |
| Launching | John E. Blaha |
| Landing | Shannon W. Lucid |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 16 September 1996, 08:54:49 UTC (4:54:49 am EDT) |
| Launch site | Kennedy, LC-39A |
| Contractor | United Space Alliance |
| End of mission | |
| Landing date | 26 September 1996, 12:13:13 UTC (8:13:13 am EDT) |
| Landing site | Kennedy, SLF Runway 15 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric orbit |
| Regime | Low Earth orbit |
| Perigee altitude | 368 km (229 mi) |
| Apogee altitude | 386 km (240 mi) |
| Inclination | 51.6° |
| Period | 92.1 minutes |
| Docking with Mir | |
| Docking port | SO starboard |
| Docking date | 19 September 1996, 03:13:18 UTC |
| Undocking date | 24 September 1996, 01:31:34 UTC |
| Time docked | 4 days, 22 hours, 18 minutes and 16 seconds |
 Seated, from left: Apt, Wilcutt, Readdy, Akers and Walz; Standing: Lucid and Blaha | |
STS-79 was the 17th flight of Space Shuttle Atlantis, and the 79th mission of the Space Shuttle program. The flight saw Atlantis dock with the Russian space station Mir to deliver equipment, supplies and to exchange personnel participating in long-duration stays aboard the station as part of the Shuttle–Mir program. A variety of scientific experiments were also conducted aboard Atlantis by her crew. It was the first shuttle mission to rendezvous with a fully assembled Mir, and the fourth rendezvous of a shuttle to the space station.[1]
- ^ "STS-79 (79)". National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Archived from the original on May 18, 2007. Retrieved December 20, 2011.