STS-81
From The Space Library
Organization | NASA-OfficeofSpaceFlight(UnitedStates) |
---|---|
Mission type | Human Crew |
Launch date | January 12, 1997 |
Launch vehicle | Space Shuttle |
Launch site | Cape Canaveral, United States |
COSPAR ID | 1997-001A |
Experiments | Here |
Alternate Names | 24711 |
Additional Information | Here |
Data Collection | Here |
Payload Mass Up | 2250.0 kg |
The STS 81 flight was the fifth in a series of joint missions between the US Space Shuttle and the Russian Space Station Mir and the second one involving an exchange of US astronauts. Shorthly after docking, STS 81 crew member Jerry Linenger transferred over to the station, becoming a member of the Mir 22 crew. Linenger replaced astronaut John Blaha, who had been aboard the orbiting facility since mid-September. He spent a total of 128 days in space, 118 of them as a Mir crew member. The payloads consisted of the following: Spacehab - The Spacehab double module in the payload bay contained many of the logistical items that were transferred to Mir. It also provided extra space for experiments such as Biorack. KidSat - The electronic still cameras aboard the shuttle supported the second flight of KidSat, as part of NASA's three-year pilot education program designed to bring the frontiers of space exploration to 15 US middle school classrooms via the Internet. DTOs/DSOs - Development Test Objectives and Detailed Supplementary Objectives. The crew consisted of the following: Commander - Michael A Baker Pilot - Brent W. Jett Mission Specialist - John M. Grunsfeld Mission Specialist - Marsha S. Ivins Mission Specialist - Peter J.K. Wisoff Mission Specialist - Jerry M. Linenger Mission Specialist - John E. Blaha