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Credit & Copyright: NASA,
STS-76 Crew
Explanation:
Imagine flying though space and approaching the
Mir space station.
The crew of the
Space Shuttle Atlantis
did just this in a mission that ended only two days ago. Mir,
now 10 years old, is equipped for
scientific experiments
in astronomy, physics, materials, biology and chemistry. The
top most module
on
Mir
is an unmanned supply ship used to send food and supplies.
The next module with the
long boom carries telescopes and essential flight equipment and
connects to the
core module
with living quarters and solar panels.
To the left is the
Spektr module
carrying solar arrays and scientific equipment while on the right is a
scientific module
that also carries an airlock. The
docking module
seen at the bottom is the ultimate destination of
Atlantis. The
STS-76 mission
left astronaut
Shannon Lucid
for a planned five month stay.
Four
more shuttle flights are currently planned to Mir, keeping a NASA
astronaut continuously in space until late 1997. In late 1997, building on
this jointly developed understanding and experience, the US and Russia will
launch the first modules of the
International Space
Station.
Latest Comet Hyakutake images:
APOD Hyakutake Archive,
JPL,
Fayetteville
Observer-Times,
NASA's Night of
the Comet,
ICSTARS,
Jerry Lodriguss,
ScienceWeb,
Crni Vrh Obs.,
Cent. Mich. U.
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day