STS-74

STS -74 (English Space Transportation System) is a mission name for the U.S. Space Shuttle Atlantis ( OV -104 ) from NASA. The launch took place on 12 November 1995. It was the 73rd Space Shuttle mission, the 15th flight of the Space Shuttle Atlantis, the fourth flight as part of the Shuttle -Mir program, and the second coupling of the U.S. space shuttle to the space station me.

Team

  • Kenneth Cameron ( third space flight), Commander
  • James Halsell ( second space flight), Pilot
  • Jerry Ross ( fifth space flight), Mission Specialist
  • William McArthur ( second space flight), Mission Specialist
  • Chris Hadfield ( first space flight), Mission Specialist (CSA / Canada)

Mission Description

With the Atlantis, the SDM developed and built coupling module in Russia arrived at the space station Mir. It was lifted on the second day of flying from the cargo bay and placed on the coupling adapter of Atlantis. Here, a new camera system was used at the tip of the manipulator arm, with which the access should be facilitated ( OSVs = Orbiter Space Vision System). Then took place on the fourth day of flying the coupling to the space station.

During the joint flight phase, several scientific studies have been made. So the stability of the more than 200 -ton complex was investigated. In particular, the interest of NASA scientists was the movements of the solar boom in thruster firings or changes in position with the aid of a gyro system (Experiment Pas de = Photogrammetric Appendage Structural Dynamics Experiment). The first time, the interaction of the station with the atoms of the thin residual atmosphere (GLO / GPP) has been researched. In different parts of the space station noise measurements were made (Mir Audible Noise Measurement). This particular noise sources should be tracked. These findings were taken into account in the design of the International Space Station.

The central task of the mission was also the transport of water, supplies, new equipment and experiments to the space station and return transport of experimental samples and commercially produced semiconductor and protein crystals to the earth. In particular blood, saliva, urine, water, air samples were then analyzed on the ground. They were the result of experiments on the adaptation of the body to zero gravity to physiological changes such as muscle or calcium loss and to the environmental conditions in the station.

During the flight, recordings were made with an IMAX camera. The 65 mm special film allows very high resolution pictures. These were evaluated by NASA not only for technical purposes, but bewitched in special movie theaters millions of interested viewers. Likewise publicity the numerous contacts with radio amateurs of the astronauts were around the world. Were especially popular conversations with students of American educational institutions (Experiment SAREX ).

The Atlantis landed after a successful flight in Cape Canaveral ( Kennedy Space Center ).

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