gear touchdown

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STS-28 Columbia, OV-102, landing at Edwards Air Force Base (EAFB) California

STS-28 Columbia, OV-102, landing at Edwards Air Force Base (EAFB) Cali...

STS028-S-013 (13 Aug 1989) --- The Space Shuttle Columbia is captured on film just prior to main gear touchdown at Edwards Air Force Base in Southern California. The landing marked a successful end to a five-d... More

STS-28 Columbia, OV-102, landing at Edwards Air Force Base (EAFB) California

STS-28 Columbia, OV-102, landing at Edwards Air Force Base (EAFB) Cali...

STS028-S-018 (13 Aug 1989) --- The Space shuttle Columbia is captured on film just prior to main gear touchdown at Edwards Air Force Base in Southern California. The landing marked a successful end to a five-d... More

STS-52 Columbia, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 102, lands on runway 33 at KSC SLF

STS-52 Columbia, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 102, lands on runway 33 at KSC S...

STS052-S-098 (1 Nov 1992) --- This ground-level side view shows the Space Shuttle Columbia just prior to main landing gear touchdown at KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility to successfully complete a ten-day Earth-o... More

STS-54 Endeavour, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 105, lands on runway 33 at KSC's SLF

STS-54 Endeavour, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 105, lands on runway 33 at KSC'...

STS054-S-098 (19 Jan 1993) --- This ground-level side view shows the Space Shuttle Endeavour during main landing gear touchdown at KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility to successfully complete a six day Earth-orbital... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Recovery convoy equipment greets the orbiter Columbia following main gear touchdown at 6:49:05 a.m. EST, Dec. 7, on Runway 33 of KSC’s Shuttle Landing Facility. The return to Earth of NASA’s oldest spaceplane occurred just moments before sunrise. This was the 33rd landing at KSC in Shuttle program history. KSC-96pc1339

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Recovery convoy equipment greets the orb...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Recovery convoy equipment greets the orbiter Columbia following main gear touchdown at 6:49:05 a.m. EST, Dec. 7, on Runway 33 of KSC’s Shuttle Landing Facility. The return to Earth... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- With sunrise just minutes away, the orbiter Columbia swoops down on KSC’s Shuttle Landing Facility, Runway 33. The 33rd KSC landing in Shuttle program history is set to occur on the first opportunity Dec. 7 at 6:49 a.m. EST. Prior landing attempts Dec. 5 and 6 were scrubbed due to weather conditions. The extended time aloft allowed the five- member crew of Mission STS-80 to set a new record for long-duration Shuttle flight. At main gear touchdown, mission duration will be about 17 days, 16 hours, surpassing the 16-day, 21-hour set by the STS-78 crew earlier this year. Guiding Columbia onto the runway is STS-80 Commander Kenneth D. Cockrell; the pilot is Kent V. Rominger. The three mission specialists are Tamara E. Jernigan, Thomas D. Jones and Story Musgrave. KSC-96pc1335

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- With sunrise just minutes away, the orbi...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- With sunrise just minutes away, the orbiter Columbia swoops down on KSC’s Shuttle Landing Facility, Runway 33. The 33rd KSC landing in Shuttle program history is set to occur on th... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- With sunrise just minutes away, the orbiter Columbia swoops down on KSC’s Shuttle Landing Facility, Runway 33. The 33rd KSC landing in Shuttle program history is set to occur on the first opportunity Dec. 7 at 6:49 a.m. EST. Prior landing attempts Dec. 5 and 6 were scrubbed due to weather conditions. The extended time aloft allowed the five- member crew of Mission STS-80 to set a new record for long-duration Shuttle flight. At main gear touchdown, mission duration will be about 17 days, 16 hours, surpassing the 16-day, 21-hour set by the STS-78 crew earlier this year. Guiding Columbia onto the runway is STS-80 Commander Kenneth D. Cockrell; the pilot is Kent V. Rominger. The three mission specialists are Tamara E. Jernigan, Thomas D. Jones and Story Musgrave. KSC-96pc1336

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- With sunrise just minutes away, the orbi...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- With sunrise just minutes away, the orbiter Columbia swoops down on KSC’s Shuttle Landing Facility, Runway 33. The 33rd KSC landing in Shuttle program history is set to occur on th... More

STS-80 Columbia, OV-102, lands at KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility

STS-80 Columbia, OV-102, lands at KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility

STS080-S-009 (7 Dec. 1996) --- Just prior to main gear touchdown, the space shuttle Columbia is pictured during landing on Runway 33 at the Kennedy Space Center's (KSC) Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF). Landing o... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- With sunrise just minutes away, the orbiter Columbia swoops down on KSC’s Shuttle Landing Facility, Runway 33. The 33rd KSC landing in Shuttle program history is set to occur on the first opportunity Dec. 7 at 6:49 a.m. EST. Prior landing attempts Dec. 5 and 6 were scrubbed due to weather conditions. The extended time aloft allowed the five- member crew of Mission STS-80 to set a new record for long-duration Shuttle flight. At main gear touchdown, mission duration will be about 17 days, 16 hours, surpassing the 16-day, 21-hour set by the STS-78 crew earlier this year. Guiding Columbia onto the runway is STS-80 Commander Kenneth D. Cockrell; the pilot is Kent V. Rominger. The three mission specialists are Tamara E. Jernigan, Thomas D. Jones and Story Musgrave. KSC-96pc1334

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- With sunrise just minutes away, the orbi...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- With sunrise just minutes away, the orbiter Columbia swoops down on KSC’s Shuttle Landing Facility, Runway 33. The 33rd KSC landing in Shuttle program history is set to occur on th... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- With sunrise just minutes away, the orbiter Columbia swoops down on KSC’s Shuttle Landing Facility, Runway 33. The 33rd KSC landing in Shuttle program history is set to occur on the first opportunity Dec. 7 at 6:49 a.m. EST. Prior landing attempts Dec. 5 and 6 were scrubbed due to weather conditions. The extended time aloft allowed the five- member crew of Mission STS-80 to set a new record for long-duration Shuttle flight. At main gear touchdown, mission duration will be about 17 days, 16 hours, surpassing the 16-day, 21-hour set by the STS-78 crew earlier this year. Guiding Columbia onto the runway is STS-80 Commander Kenneth D. Cockrell; the pilot is Kent V. Rominger. The three mission specialists are Tamara E. Jernigan, Thomas D. Jones and Story Musgrave KSC-96pc1332

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- With sunrise just minutes away, the orbi...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- With sunrise just minutes away, the orbiter Columbia swoops down on KSC’s Shuttle Landing Facility, Runway 33. The 33rd KSC landing in Shuttle program history is set to occur on th... More

The Space Shuttle orbiter Atlantis touches down on Runway 33 at 9:22:44 a.m. EST Jan. 22 to conclude the fifth Shuttle-Mir docking mission and return NASA astronaut John Blaha to Earth after four months in space. Blaha was replaced by STS-81 Mission Specialist Jerry Linenger during the five days of docked operations. At main gear touchdown, the STS-81 mission duration was 10 days, 4 hours, 55 minutes. This was the 34th KSC landing in Shuttle history. Mission Commander Michael A. Baker flew Atlantis to a perfect landing, with help from Pilot Brent W. Jett, Jr. Other returning STS-81 crew members are Mission Specialists John M. Grunsfeld, Peter J. K. "Jeff" Wisoff and Marsha S. Ivins. Atlantis also brought back experiment samples from the Russian space station for analysis on Earth, along with Russian logistics equipment KSC-97pc188

The Space Shuttle orbiter Atlantis touches down on Runway 33 at 9:22:4...

The Space Shuttle orbiter Atlantis touches down on Runway 33 at 9:22:44 a.m. EST Jan. 22 to conclude the fifth Shuttle-Mir docking mission and return NASA astronaut John Blaha to Earth after four months in spac... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The Space Shuttle orbiter Atlantis touches down on Runway 33 at 9:22:44 a.m. EST Jan. 22 to conclude the fifth Shuttle-Mir docking mission and return NASA astronaut John Blaha to Earth after four months in space. Blaha was replaced by STS-81 Mission Specialist Jerry Linenger during the five days of docked operations. At main gear touchdown, the STS-81 mission duration was 10 days, 4 hours, 55 minutes. This was the 34th KSC landing in Shuttle history. Mission Commander Michael A. Baker flew Atlantis to a perfect landing, with help from Pilot Brent W. Jett, Jr. Other returning STS-81 crew members are Mission Specialists John M. Grunsfeld, Peter J. K. "Jeff" Wisoff and Marsha S. Ivins. Atlantis also brought back experiment samples from the Russian space station for analysis on Earth, along with Russian logistics equipment KSC-97pc189

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The Space Shuttle orbiter Atlantis touch...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The Space Shuttle orbiter Atlantis touches down on Runway 33 at 9:22:44 a.m. EST Jan. 22 to conclude the fifth Shuttle-Mir docking mission and return NASA astronaut John Blaha to E... More

KSC-97pc194. NASA public domain image. Kennedy space center.

KSC-97pc194. NASA public domain image. Kennedy space center.

The Space Shuttle orbiter Atlantis touches down on Runway 33 at 9:22:44 a.m. EST Jan. 22 to conclude the fifth Shuttle-Mir docking mission and return NASA astronaut John Blaha to Earth after four months in spac... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- With its drag chute deployed, the Space Shuttle orbiter Atlantis touches down on Runway 33 on the second opportunity at 9:22:44 a.m. EST Jan. 22 to conclude the fifth Shuttle-Mir docking mission and return NASA astronaut John Blaha to Earth after four months in space. At main gear touchdown, the STS-81 mission duration was 10 days, 4 hours, 55 minutes. This was the 34th KSC landing in Shuttle history. Mission Commander Michael A. Baker flew Atlantis to a perfect landing, with help from Pilot Brent W. Jett, Jr. Other returning STS-81 crew members are Mission Specialists John M.Grunsfeld, Peter J. K. "Jeff" Wisoff and Marsha S. Ivins. Atlantis also brought back experiment samples from the Russian space station Mir for analysis on Earth, along with Russian logistics equipment KSC-97pc190

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- With its drag chute deployed, the Space ...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- With its drag chute deployed, the Space Shuttle orbiter Atlantis touches down on Runway 33 on the second opportunity at 9:22:44 a.m. EST Jan. 22 to conclude the fifth Shuttle-Mir d... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Four members of the STS-81 crew pose in front of the Space Shuttle orbiter Atlantis on Runway 33 of KSC’s Shuttle Landing Facility after the space plane touched down at 9:22:44 a.m. EST Jan. 22 to conclude the fifth Shuttle-Mir docking mission. The crew members are (from left): Mission Specialists John M. Grunsfeld and Peter J. K. "Jeff" Wisoff ; Pilot Brent W. Jett, Jr.; and Mission Commander Michael A. Baker. Also returning on board Atlantis were Mission Specialist Marsha S. Ivins and John Blaha, who had been a member of the Mir 22 crew for four months. At main gear touchdown, the STS-81 mission duration was 10 days, 4 hours, 55 minutes. This was the 34th KSC landing in Shuttle history KSC-97pc195

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Four members of the STS-81 crew pose in ...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Four members of the STS-81 crew pose in front of the Space Shuttle orbiter Atlantis on Runway 33 of KSC’s Shuttle Landing Facility after the space plane touched down at 9:22:44 a.m... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The Space Shuttle orbiter Atlantis glides out of a morning sky as it prepares to land on Runway 33 at a scheduled time of about 9:23 a.m. EST Jan. 22 to conclude the fifth Shuttle-Mir docking mission and return NASA astronaut John Blaha to Earth after four months in space. At main gear touchdown, the STS-81 mission duration will be 10 days, 4 hours, 55 minutes. This is the 34th KSC landing in Shuttle history. Mission Commander Michael A. Baker is steering Atlantis to a perfect landing, with help from Pilot Brent W. Jett, Jr. Other returning STS-81 crew members are Mission Specialists John M. Grunsfeld, Peter J. K. "Jeff" Wisoff and Marsha S. Ivins. Atlantis also brought back experiment samples from the Russian space station Mir for analysis on Earth KSC-97pc192

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The Space Shuttle orbiter Atlantis glide...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The Space Shuttle orbiter Atlantis glides out of a morning sky as it prepares to land on Runway 33 at a scheduled time of about 9:23 a.m. EST Jan. 22 to conclude the fifth Shuttle-... More

The landing of STS-81 Atlantis, OV-104, on a runway at KSC's SLF

The landing of STS-81 Atlantis, OV-104, on a runway at KSC's SLF

STS081-S-008 (22 Jan. 1997) --- The Space Shuttle Atlantis touches down on Runway 33 at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) to conclude the fifth Shuttle-Mir docking mission. Coming to a halt at 9:22:44 a.m. (EST),... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- With its drag chute deployed, the Space Shuttle orbiter Atlantis touches down on Runway 33 on the second opportunity at 9:22:44 a.m. EST Jan. 22 to conclude the fifth Shuttle-Mir docking mission and return NASA astronaut John Blaha to Earth after four months in space. At main gear touchdown, the STS-81 mission duration was 10 days, 4 hours, 55 minutes. This was the 34th KSC landing in Shuttle history. Mission Commander Michael A. Baker flew Atlantis to a perfect landing, with help from Pilot Brent W. Jett, Jr. Other returning STS-81 crew members are Mission Specialists John M.Grunsfeld, Peter J. K. "Jeff" Wisoff and Marsha S. Ivins. Atlantis also brought back experiment samples from the Russian space station Mir for analysis on Earth, along with Russian logistics equipment KSC-97pc191

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- With its drag chute deployed, the Space ...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- With its drag chute deployed, the Space Shuttle orbiter Atlantis touches down on Runway 33 on the second opportunity at 9:22:44 a.m. EST Jan. 22 to conclude the fifth Shuttle-Mir d... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- NASA Administrator Daniel S. Goldin (center) and KSC Director of Shuttle Operations Robert B. Sieck (right) discuss the successful conclusion of the STS-81 mission with Mission Commander Michael A. Baker (left). They are underneath the Space Shuttle orbiter Atlantis after the space plane landed on Runway 33 at the KSC Shuttle Landing Facility at 9:22:44 a.m. EST Jan. 22 to conclude the fifth Shuttle-Mir docking mission. At main gear touchdown, the STS-81 mission duration was 10 days, 4 hours, 55 minutes. This was the 34th KSC landing in Shuttle history KSC-97pc196

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- NASA Administrator Daniel S. Goldin (cen...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- NASA Administrator Daniel S. Goldin (center) and KSC Director of Shuttle Operations Robert B. Sieck (right) discuss the successful conclusion of the STS-81 mission with Mission Com... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- With the Mate/Demate Device (MDD) on the left and the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) on the right, the Space Shuttle orbiter Atlantis approaches Runway 33 at KSC’s Shuttle Landing Facility for a scheduled touchdown at about 9:23 a.m. EST Jan. 22. When the orbiter lands, it will conclude the fifth Shuttle-Mir docking mission and return NASA astronaut John Blaha to Earth after four months in space. At main gear touchdown, the STS-81 mission duration will be 10 days, 4 hours, 55 minutes. This is the 34th KSC landing in Shuttle history. Mission Commander Michael A. Baker is steering Atlantis to a perfect landing, with help from Pilot Brent W. Jett, Jr. Other returning STS-81 crew members are Mission Specialists John M. Grunsfeld, Peter J. K. "Jeff" Wisoff and Marsha S. Ivins. Atlantis also brought back experiment samples from the Russian space station Mir for analysis on Earth KSC-97pc193

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- With the Mate/Demate Device (MDD) on the...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- With the Mate/Demate Device (MDD) on the left and the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) on the right, the Space Shuttle orbiter Atlantis approaches Runway 33 at KSC’s Shuttle Landing... More

The landing of STS-81 Atlantis, OV-104, on a runway at KSC's SLF

The landing of STS-81 Atlantis, OV-104, on a runway at KSC's SLF

STS081-S-010 (22 Jan. 1997) --- A drag chute is deployed as the Space Shuttle Atlantis rolls toward a wheels stopped mode on Runway 33 at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) to conclude the fifth Shuttle-Mir docking... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The Space Shuttle Orbiter Columbia glides in for a touchdown on Runway 33 at KSC’s Shuttle Landing Facility that will conclude the Microgravity Science Laboratory-1 (MSL-1) mission. Columbia was scheduled to touch down at 2:33 p.m. EDT, April 8. The Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) is to the right, while the Mate/Demate Device (MDD) is to the left. A NASA Shuttle Training Aircraft (STA) that acts as a chase plane during landings passes by overhead. With Columbia’s on-time main gear touchdown, the STS-83 mission duration will be 3 days, 23 hours, 12 minutes. The planned 16-day mission was cut short by a faulty fuel cell. This is only the third time in Shuttle program history that an orbiter was brought home early due to mechanical problems. This was also the 36th KSC landing since the program began in 1981 KSC-97pc605

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The Space Shuttle Orbiter Columbia glide...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The Space Shuttle Orbiter Columbia glides in for a touchdown on Runway 33 at KSC’s Shuttle Landing Facility that will conclude the Microgravity Science Laboratory-1 (MSL-1) mission... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- STS-83 Pilot Susan L. Still greets KSC postlanding operations workers on Runway 33 at the Space Center’s Shuttle Landing Facility after the Space Shuttle Orbiter Columbia landed at 2:33:11 p. m. EDT, April 8, to conclude the Microgravity Science Laboratory-1 (MSL-1) mission. At main gear touchdown, the STS-83 mission duration was 3 days, 23 hours, 12 minutes. The planned 16-day mission was cut short by a faulty fuel cell. This is only the third time in Shuttle program history that an orbiter was brought home early due to mechanical problems. This was also the 36th KSC landing since the program began in 1981 KSC-97pc607

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- STS-83 Pilot Susan L. Still greets KSC p...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- STS-83 Pilot Susan L. Still greets KSC postlanding operations workers on Runway 33 at the Space Center’s Shuttle Landing Facility after the Space Shuttle Orbiter Columbia landed at... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- With drag chute deployed, the Space Shuttle Columbia hurtles down Runway 33 at KSCþs Shuttle Landing Facility to conclude the Microgravity Science Laboratory-1 (MSL-1) mission. With main gear touchdown at 2:33:11 p.m. EDT, April 8, the STS-83 mission duration was 3 days, 23 hours, 12 minutes. The planned 16-day mission was cut short by a faulty fuel cell. This is only the third time in Shuttle program history that an orbiter was brought home early due to a mechanical problem. This was also the 36th KSC landing since the program began in 1981. Mission Commander James D. Halsell, Jr. flew Columbia to a perfect landing with help from Pilot Susan L. Still. Other crew members are Payload Commander Janice E. Voss; Mission Specialists Michael L.Gernhardt and Donald A. Thomas; and Payload Specialists Roger K. Crouch and Gregory T. Linteris. In spite of the abbreviated flight, the crew was able to perform MSL-1 experiments. The Spacelab-module-based experiments were used to test some of the hardware, facilities and procedures that are planned for use on the International Space Station and to conduct combustion, protein crystal growth and materials processing investigations KSC-97pc599

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- With drag chute deployed, the Space Shut...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- With drag chute deployed, the Space Shuttle Columbia hurtles down Runway 33 at KSCþs Shuttle Landing Facility to conclude the Microgravity Science Laboratory-1 (MSL-1) mission. Wit... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The Space Shuttle Columbia prepares to touch down on Runway 33 at KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility at approximately 2:33 p.m. EDT, April 8, to conclude the Microgravity Science Laboratory-1 (MSL-1) mission. At main gear touchdown, the STS-83 mission duration will be just under four days. The planned 16-day mission was cut short by a faulty fuel cell. This is only the third time in Shuttle program history that an orbiter was brought home early due to mechanical problems. This was also the 36th KSC landing since the program began in 1981. Mission Commander James D. Halsell, Jr. flew Columbia to a perfect landing with help from Pilot Susan L. Still. Other crew members are Payload Commander Janice E. Voss; Mission Specialists Michael L.Gernhardt and Donald A. Thomas; and Payload Specialists Roger K. Crouch and Gregory T. Linteris. In spite of the abbreviated flight, the crew was able to perform MSL-1 experiments. The Spacelab-module-based experiments were used to test some of the hardware, facilities and procedures that are planned for use on the International Space Station and to conduct combustion, protein crystal growth and materials processing investigations KSC-97pc603

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The Space Shuttle Columbia prepares to t...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The Space Shuttle Columbia prepares to touch down on Runway 33 at KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility at approximately 2:33 p.m. EDT, April 8, to conclude the Microgravity Science Labor... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- With drag chute deployed, the Space Shuttle Columbia hurtles down Runway 33 at KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility to conclude the Microgravity Science Laboratory-1 (MSL-1) mission. With main gear touchdown at 2:33:11 p.m. EDT, April 8, the STS-83 mission duration was 3 days, 23 hours, 12 minutes. The planned 16-day mission was cut short by a faulty fuel cell. This is only the third time in Shuttle program history that an orbiter was brought home early due to a mechanical problem. This was also the 36th KSC landing since the program began in 1981. Mission Commander James D. Halsell, Jr. flew Columbia to a perfect landing with help from Pilot Susan L. Still. Other crew members are Payload Commander Janice E. Voss; Mission Specialists Michael L.Gernhardt and Donald A. Thomas; and Payload Specialists Roger K. Crouch and Gregory T. Linteris. In spite of the abbreviated flight, the crew was able to perform MSL-1 experiments. The Spacelab-module-based experiments were used to test some of the hardware, facilities and procedures that are planned for use on the International Space Station and to conduct combustion, protein crystal growth and materials processing investigations KSC-97pc604

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- With drag chute deployed, the Space Shut...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- With drag chute deployed, the Space Shuttle Columbia hurtles down Runway 33 at KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility to conclude the Microgravity Science Laboratory-1 (MSL-1) mission. Wit... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- With the Space Shuttle Orbiter Columbia in the background, STS-83 Mission Commander James D. Halsell (center) gives a post-landing briefing on Runway 33 at KSC’s Shuttle Landing Facility. Columbia landed at 2:33:11 p. m. EDT, April 8, to conclude the Microgravity Science Laboratory-1 (MSL-1) mission. The other flight crew members (from left) are: Payload Specialist Roger K. Crouch; Payload Commander Janice Voss; Mission Specialist Michael L. Gernhardt; Pilot Susan L. Still; Payload Specialist Gregory T. Linteris; and Mission Specialist Donald A. Thomas. At main gear touchdown, the STS-83 mission duration was 3 days, 23 hours, 12 minutes. The planned 16-day mission was cut short by a faulty fuel cell. This is only the third time in Shuttle program history that an orbiter was brought home early due to mechanical problems. This was also the 36th KSC landing since the program began in 1981 KSC-97pc606

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- With the Space Shuttle Orbiter Columbia ...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- With the Space Shuttle Orbiter Columbia in the background, STS-83 Mission Commander James D. Halsell (center) gives a post-landing briefing on Runway 33 at KSC’s Shuttle Landing Fa... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The Space Shuttle Columbia touches down on Runway 33 at KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility at 2:33:11 p.m. EDT, April 8, to conclude the Microgravity Science Laboratory-1 (MSL-1) mission. At main gear touchdown, the STS-83 mission duration was 3 days, 23 hours, 12 minutes. The planned 16-day mission was cut short by a faulty fuel cell. This is only the third time in Shuttle program history that an orbiter was brought home early due to mechanical problems. This was also the 36th KSC landing since the program began in 1981. Mission Commander James D. Halsell, Jr. flew Columbia to a perfect landing with help from Pilot Susan L. Still. Other crew members are Payload Commander Janice E. Voss; Mission Specialists Michael L. Gernhardt and Donald A. Thomas; and Payload Specialists Roger K. Crouch and Gregory T. Linteris. In spite of the abbreviated flight, the crew was able to perform MSL-1 experiments. The Spacelab-module-based experiments were used to test some of the hardware, facilities and procedures that are planned for use on the International Space Station and to conduct combustion, protein crystal growth and materials processing investigations KSC-97pc601

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The Space Shuttle Columbia touches down ...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The Space Shuttle Columbia touches down on Runway 33 at KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility at 2:33:11 p.m. EDT, April 8, to conclude the Microgravity Science Laboratory-1 (MSL-1) missi... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The Space Shuttle Columbia touches down on Runway 33 at KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility at 2:33:11 p.m. EDT, April 8, to conclude the Microgravity Science Laboratory-1 (MSL-1) mission. At main gear touchdown, the STS-83 mission duration was 3 days, 23 hours, 12 minutes. The planned 16-day mission was cut short by a faulty fuel cell. This is only the third time in Shuttle program history that an orbiter was brought home early due to mechanical problems. This was also the 36th KSC landing since the program began in 1981. Mission Commander James D. Halsell, Jr. flew Columbia to a perfect landing with help from Pilot Susan L. Still. Other crew members are Payload Commander Janice E. Voss; Mission Specialists Michael L. Gernhardt and Donald A. Thomas; and Payload Specialists Roger K. Crouch and Gregory T. Linteris. In spite of the abbreviated flight, the crew was able to perform MSL-1 experiments. The Spacelab-module-based experiments were used to test some of the hardware, facilities and procedures that are planned for use on the International Space Station and to conduct combustion, protein crystal growth and materials processing investigations KSC-97pc600

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The Space Shuttle Columbia touches down ...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The Space Shuttle Columbia touches down on Runway 33 at KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility at 2:33:11 p.m. EDT, April 8, to conclude the Microgravity Science Laboratory-1 (MSL-1) missi... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The Space Shuttle Columbia touches down on Runway 33 at KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility at 2:33:11 p.m. EDT, April 8, to conclude the Microgravity Science Laboratory-1 (MSL-1) mission. At main gear touchdown, the STS-83 mission duration was 3 days, 23 hours, 12 minutes. The planned 16-day mission was cut short by a faulty fuel cell. This is only the third time in Shuttle program history that an orbiter was brought home early due to mechanical problems. This was also the 36th KSC landing since the program began in 1981. Mission Commander James D. Halsell, Jr. flew Columbia to a perfect landing with help from Pilot Susan L. Still. Other crew members are Payload Commander Janice E. Voss; Mission Specialists Michael L. Gernhardt and Donald A. Thomas; and Payload Specialists Roger K. Crouch and Gregory T. Linteris. In spite of the abbreviated flight, the crew was able to perform MSL-1 experiments. The Spacelab-module-based experiments were used to test some of the hardware, facilities and procedures that are planned for use on the International Space Station and to conduct combustion, protein crystal growth and materials processing investigations KSC-97pc602

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The Space Shuttle Columbia touches down ...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The Space Shuttle Columbia touches down on Runway 33 at KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility at 2:33:11 p.m. EDT, April 8, to conclude the Microgravity Science Laboratory-1 (MSL-1) missi... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The Space Shuttle Columbia touches down on Runway 33 at KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility at 2:33:11 p.m. EDT, April 8, to conclude the Microgravity Science Laboratory-1 (MSL-1) mission. At main gear touchdown, the STS-83 mission duration was 3 days, 23 hours, 12 minutes. The planned 16-day mission was cut short by a faulty fuel cell. This is only the third time in Shuttle program history that an orbiter was brought home early due to mechanical problems. This was also the 36th KSC landing since the program began in 1981. Mission Commander James D. Halsell, Jr. flew Columbia to a perfect landing with help from Pilot Susan L. Still. Other crew members are Payload Commander Janice E. Voss; Mission Specialists Michael L. Gernhardt and Donald A. Thomas; and Payload Specialists Roger K. Crouch and Gregory T. Linteris. In spite of the abbreviated flight, the crew was able to perform MSL-1 experiments. The Spacelab-module-based experiments were used to test some of the hardware, facilities and procedures that are planned for use on the International Space Station and to conduct combustion, protein crystal growth and materials processing investigations KSC-97pc608

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The Space Shuttle Columbia touches down ...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The Space Shuttle Columbia touches down on Runway 33 at KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility at 2:33:11 p.m. EDT, April 8, to conclude the Microgravity Science Laboratory-1 (MSL-1) missi... More

STS-86 Mission Specialist Jean-Loup J.M. Chretien of the French Space Agency, CNES, can still feel heat from the nose of the orbiter Atlantis more than an hour after landing on KSC’s Runway 15 of the Shuttle Landing Facility. The nearly 11-day mission ended with main gear touchdown at 5:55:09 p.m. EDT, Oct. 6, 1997. STS-86 was the seventh docking of the Space Shuttle with the Russian Space Station Mir KSC-97PC1503

STS-86 Mission Specialist Jean-Loup J.M. Chretien of the French Space ...

STS-86 Mission Specialist Jean-Loup J.M. Chretien of the French Space Agency, CNES, can still feel heat from the nose of the orbiter Atlantis more than an hour after landing on KSC’s Runway 15 of the Shuttle La... More

The Space Shuttle orbiter Atlantis touches down on Runway 15 of the KSC Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF) to complete the nearly 11-day STS-86 mission. Main gear touchdown was at 5:55:09 p.m. EDT on Oct. 6, 1997. The unofficial mission-elapsed time at main gear touchdown was 10 days, 19 hours, 20 minutes and 50 seconds. The first two landing opportunities on Sunday were waved off because of weather concerns. The 87th Space Shuttle mission was the 40th landing of the Shuttle at KSC. On Sunday evening, the Space Shuttle program reached a milestone: The total flight time of the Shuttle passed the two-year mark. STS-86 was the seventh of nine planned dockings of the Space Shuttle with the Russian Space Station Mir. STS-86 Mission Specialist David A. Wolf replaced NASA astronaut and Mir 24 crew member C. Michael Foale, who has been on the Mir since mid-May. Foale returned to Earth on Atlantis with the remainder of the STS-86 crew. The other crew members are Commander James D. Wetherbee, Pilot Michael J. Bloomfield, and Mission Specialists Wendy B. Lawrence, Scott E. Parazynski, Vladimir Georgievich Titov of the Russian Space Agency, and Jean-Loup J.M. Chretien of the French Space Agency, CNES. Wolf is scheduled to remain on the Mir until the STS-89 Shuttle mission in January. Besides the docking and crew exchange, STS-86 included the transfer of more than three-and-ahalf tons of science/logistical equipment and supplies between the two orbiting spacecraft. Parazynski and Titov also conducted a spacewalk while Atlantis and the Mir were docked KSC-97PC1504

The Space Shuttle orbiter Atlantis touches down on Runway 15 of the KS...

The Space Shuttle orbiter Atlantis touches down on Runway 15 of the KSC Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF) to complete the nearly 11-day STS-86 mission. Main gear touchdown was at 5:55:09 p.m. EDT on Oct. 6, 1997. ... More

The Space Shuttle orbiter Atlantis touches down on Runway 15 of the KSC Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF) to complete the nearly 11-day STS-86 mission. Main gear touchdown was at 5:55:09 p.m. EDT on Oct. 6, 1997. The unofficial mission-elapsed time at main gear touchdown was 10 days, 19 hours, 20 minutes and 50 seconds. The first two landing opportunities on Sunday were waved off because of weather concerns. The 87th Space Shuttle mission was the 40th landing of the Shuttle at KSC. On Sunday evening, the Space Shuttle program reached a milestone: The total flight time of the Shuttle passed the two-year mark. STS-86 was the seventh of nine planned dockings of the Space Shuttle with the Russian Space Station Mir. STS-86 Mission Specialist David A. Wolf replaced NASA astronaut and Mir 24 crew member C. Michael Foale, who has been on the Mir since mid-May. Foale returned to Earth on Atlantis with the remainder of the STS-86 crew. The other crew members are Commander James D. Wetherbee, Pilot Michael J. Bloomfield, and Mission Specialists Wendy B. Lawrence, Scott E. Parazynski, Vladimir Georgievich Titov of the Russian Space Agency, and Jean-Loup J.M. Chretien of the French Space Agency, CNES. Wolf is scheduled to remain on the Mir until the STS-89 Shuttle mission in January. Besides the docking and crew exchange, STS-86 included the transfer of more than three-and-ahalf tons of science/logistical equipment and supplies between the two orbiting spacecraft. Parazynski and Titov also conducted a spacewalk while Atlantis and the Mir were docked KSC-97PC1505

The Space Shuttle orbiter Atlantis touches down on Runway 15 of the KS...

The Space Shuttle orbiter Atlantis touches down on Runway 15 of the KSC Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF) to complete the nearly 11-day STS-86 mission. Main gear touchdown was at 5:55:09 p.m. EDT on Oct. 6, 1997. ... More

The Space Shuttle orbiter Atlantis touches down on Runway 15 of the KSC Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF) to complete the nearly 11-day STS-86 mission. Main gear touchdown was at 5:55:09 p.m. EDT on Oct. 6, 1997. The unofficial mission-elapsed time at main gear touchdown was 10 days, 19 hours, 20 minutes and 50 seconds. The first two landing opportunities on Sunday were waved off because of weather concerns. The 87th Space Shuttle mission was the 40th landing of the Shuttle at KSC. On Sunday evening, the Space Shuttle program reached a milestone: The total flight time of the Shuttle passed the two-year mark. STS-86 was the seventh of nine planned dockings of the Space Shuttle with the Russian Space Station Mir. STS-86 Mission Specialist David A. Wolf replaced NASA astronaut and Mir 24 crew member C. Michael Foale, who has been on the Mir since mid-May. Foale returned to Earth on Atlantis with the remainder of the STS-86 crew. The other crew members are Commander James D. Wetherbee, Pilot Michael J. Bloomfield, and Mission Specialists Wendy B. Lawrence, Scott E. Parazynski, Vladimir Georgievich Titov of the Russian Space Agency, and Jean-Loup J.M. Chretien of the French Space Agency, CNES. Wolf is scheduled to remain on the Mir until the STS-89 Shuttle mission in January. Besides the docking and crew exchange, STS-86 included the transfer of more than three-and-ahalf tons of science/logistical equipment and supplies between the two orbiting spacecraft. Parazynski and Titov also conducted a spacewalk while Atlantis and the Mir were docked KSC-97PC1495

The Space Shuttle orbiter Atlantis touches down on Runway 15 of the KS...

The Space Shuttle orbiter Atlantis touches down on Runway 15 of the KSC Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF) to complete the nearly 11-day STS-86 mission. Main gear touchdown was at 5:55:09 p.m. EDT on Oct. 6, 1997. ... More

STS-86 Mission Specialists Vladimir Georgievich Titov of the Russian Space Agency, at left, and Jean-Loup J.M. Chretien of the French Space Agency, CNES, talk about their recently completed U.S. space mission while walking under and around the orbiter Atlantis after landing on KSC’s Runway 15 of the Shuttle Landing Facility. This was Chretien’s third spaceflight, but first on the Space Shuttle. Titov previously flew four times in space, including once on the Space Shuttle as a mission specialist on STS-63. The nearly 11-day STS-86 mission ended with main gear touchdown at 5:55:09 p.m. EDT, Oct. 6, 1997. STS-86 was the seventh docking of the Space Shuttle with the Russian Space Station Mir KSC-97PC1500

STS-86 Mission Specialists Vladimir Georgievich Titov of the Russian S...

STS-86 Mission Specialists Vladimir Georgievich Titov of the Russian Space Agency, at left, and Jean-Loup J.M. Chretien of the French Space Agency, CNES, talk about their recently completed U.S. space mission w... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- The Space Shuttle orbiter Atlantis touches down on Runway 15 of the KSC Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF) to complete the nearly 11-day STS-86 mission. Main gear touchdown was at 5:55:09 p.m. EDT on Oct. 6, 1997. The unofficial mission-elapsed time at main gear touchdown was 10 days, 19 hours, 20 minutes and 50 seconds. The first two landing opportunities on Sunday were waved off because of weather concerns. The 87th Space Shuttle mission was the 40th landing of the Shuttle at KSC. On Sunday evening, the Space Shuttle program reached a milestone: The total flight time of the Shuttle passed the two-year mark. STS-86 was the seventh of nine planned dockings of the Space Shuttle with the Russian Space Station Mir. STS-86 Mission Specialist David A. Wolf replaced NASA astronaut and Mir 24 crew member C. Michael Foale, who has been on the Mir since mid-May. Foale returned to Earth on Atlantis with the remainder of the STS-86 crew. The other crew members are Commander James D. Wetherbee, Pilot Michael J. Bloomfield, and Mission Specialists Wendy B. Lawrence, Scott E. Parazynski, Vladimir Georgievich Titov of the Russian Space Agency, and Jean-Loup J.M. Chretien of the French Space Agency, CNES. Wolf is scheduled to remain on the Mir until the STS-89 Shuttle mission in January. Besides the docking and crew exchange, STS-86 included the transfer of more than three-and-ahalf tons of science/logistical equipment and supplies between the two orbiting spacecraft. Parazynski and Titov also conducted a spacewalk while Atlantis and the Mir were docked KSC-97PC1496

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- The Space Shuttle orbiter Atlantis touch...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- The Space Shuttle orbiter Atlantis touches down on Runway 15 of the KSC Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF) to complete the nearly 11-day STS-86 mission. Main gear touchdown was at 5:55... More

STS-86 Pilot Michael J. Bloomfield, the only space rookie on the crew, feels the heat from a tire on the orbiter Atlantis more than an hour after the landing on KSC’s Runway 15. The nearly 11-day mission ended with main gear touchdown at 5:55:09 p.m. EDT, Oct. 6, 1997. STS-86 was the seventh docking of the Space Shuttle with the Russian Space Station Mir KSC-97PC1501

STS-86 Pilot Michael J. Bloomfield, the only space rookie on the crew,...

STS-86 Pilot Michael J. Bloomfield, the only space rookie on the crew, feels the heat from a tire on the orbiter Atlantis more than an hour after the landing on KSC’s Runway 15. The nearly 11-day mission ended ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- The Space Shuttle orbiter Atlantis touches down on Runway 15 of the KSC Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF) to complete the nearly 11-day STS-86 mission. Main gear touchdown was at 5:55:09 p.m. EDT on Oct. 6, 1997. The unofficial mission-elapsed time at main gear touchdown was 10 days, 19 hours, 20 minutes and 50 seconds. The first two landing opportunities on Sunday were waved off because of weather concerns. The 87th Space Shuttle mission was the 40th landing of the Shuttle at KSC. On Sunday evening, the Space Shuttle program reached a milestone: The total flight time of the Shuttle passed the two-year mark. STS-86 was the seventh of nine planned dockings of the Space Shuttle with the Russian Space Station Mir. STS-86 Mission Specialist David A. Wolf replaced NASA astronaut and Mir 24 crew member C. Michael Foale, who has been on the Mir since mid-May. Foale returned to Earth on Atlantis with the remainder of the STS-86 crew. The other crew members are Commander James D. Wetherbee, Pilot Michael J. Bloomfield, and Mission Specialists Wendy B. Lawrence, Scott E. Parazynski, Vladimir Georgievich Titov of the Russian Space Agency, and Jean-Loup J.M. Chretien of the French Space Agency, CNES. Wolf is scheduled to remain on the Mir until the STS-89 Shuttle mission in January. Besides the docking and crew exchange, STS-86 included the transfer of more than three-and-ahalf tons of science/logistical equipment and supplies between the two orbiting spacecraft. Parazynski and Titov also conducted a spacewalk while Atlantis and the Mir were docked KSC-97PC1494

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- The Space Shuttle orbiter Atlantis touch...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- The Space Shuttle orbiter Atlantis touches down on Runway 15 of the KSC Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF) to complete the nearly 11-day STS-86 mission. Main gear touchdown was at 5:55... More

STS-86 Commander James D. Wetherbee, at center, is greeted by KSC Space Shuttle officials shortly after landing the orbiter Atlantis on KSC’s Runway 15. Shuttle Operations Director Bob Sieck is at left; Launch Director Jim Harrington is at Wetherbee’s right. The nearly 11-day mission ended with main gear touchdown at 5:55:09 p.m. EDT, Oct. 6, 1997. STS-86 was the seventh docking of the Space Shuttle with the Russian Space Station Mir KSC-97PC1502

STS-86 Commander James D. Wetherbee, at center, is greeted by KSC Spac...

STS-86 Commander James D. Wetherbee, at center, is greeted by KSC Space Shuttle officials shortly after landing the orbiter Atlantis on KSC’s Runway 15. Shuttle Operations Director Bob Sieck is at left; Launch ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- The Space Shuttle orbiter Atlantis touches down on Runway 15 of the KSC Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF) to complete the nearly 11-day STS-86 mission. Main gear touchdown was at 5:55:09 p.m. EDT on Oct. 6, 1997. The unofficial mission-elapsed time at main gear touchdown was 10 days, 19 hours, 20 minutes and 50 seconds. The first two landing opportunities on Sunday were waved off because of weather concerns. The 87th Space Shuttle mission was the 40th landing of the Shuttle at KSC. On Sunday evening, the Space Shuttle program reached a milestone: The total flight time of the Shuttle passed the two-year mark. STS-86 was the seventh of nine planned dockings of the Space Shuttle with the Russian Space Station Mir. STS-86 Mission Specialist David A. Wolf replaced NASA astronaut and Mir 24 crew member C. Michael Foale, who has been on the Mir since mid-May. Foale returned to Earth on Atlantis with the remainder of the STS-86 crew. The other crew members are Commander James D. Wetherbee, Pilot Michael J. Bloomfield, and Mission Specialists Wendy B. Lawrence, Scott E. Parazynski, Vladimir Georgievich Titov of the Russian Space Agency, and Jean-Loup J.M. Chretien of the French Space Agency, CNES. Wolf is scheduled to remain on the Mir until the STS-89 Shuttle mission in January. Besides the docking and crew exchange, STS-86 included the transfer of more than three-and-ahalf tons of science/logistical equipment and supplies between the two orbiting spacecraft. Parazynski and Titov also conducted a spacewalk while Atlantis and the Mir were docked KSC-97PC1499

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- The Space Shuttle orbiter Atlantis touch...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- The Space Shuttle orbiter Atlantis touches down on Runway 15 of the KSC Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF) to complete the nearly 11-day STS-86 mission. Main gear touchdown was at 5:55... More

STS-87 Payload Specialist Leonid Kadenyuk of the National Space Agency of Ukraine (NSAU), at left, greets NASA Administrator Daniel Goldin, at right, as back-up Payload Specialist Yaroslav Pustovyi, also of NSAU, looks on. STS-87 concluded its mission with a main gear touchdown at 7:20:04 a.m. EST Dec. 5, at KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility Runway 33, drawing the 15-day, 16-hour and 34-minute-long mission of 6.5 million miles to a close. Also onboard the orbiter were Commander Kevin Kregel; Pilot Steven Lindsey; and Mission Specialists Winston Scott; Kalpana Chawla, Ph.D.; and Takao Doi, Ph.D. of the National Space Development Agency of Japan. During the 88th Space Shuttle mission, the crew performed experiments on the United States Microgravity Payload-4 and pollinated plants as part of the Collaborative Ukrainian Experiment. This was the 12th landing for Columbia at KSC and the 41st KSC landing in the history of the Space Shuttle program KSC-97PC1748

STS-87 Payload Specialist Leonid Kadenyuk of the National Space Agency...

STS-87 Payload Specialist Leonid Kadenyuk of the National Space Agency of Ukraine (NSAU), at left, greets NASA Administrator Daniel Goldin, at right, as back-up Payload Specialist Yaroslav Pustovyi, also of NSA... More

STS-87 crew members regard the tiles underneath the orbiter Columbia shortly after its return to Runway 33 at Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility. Pointing to the tiles is the president of the National Space Development Agency (NASDA) of Japan, Isao Uchida, who is standing next to NASA Administrator Daniel Goldin. STS-87 Commander Kevin Kregel, at right, looks on as Pilot Steve Lindsey follows behind him to continue inspecting the orbiter. STS-87 concluded its mission with a main gear touchdown at 7:20:04 a.m. EST Dec. 5, drawing the 15-day, 16-hour and 34-minute-long mission of 6.5 million miles to a close. Also onboard the orbiter were Mission Specialists Winston Scott; Kalpana Chawla, Ph.D.; and Takao Doi, Ph.D., of NASDA; along with Payload Specialist Leonid Kadenyuk of the National Space Agency of Ukraine. During the 88th Space Shuttle mission, the crew performed experiments on the United States Microgravity Payload-4 and pollinated plants as part of the Collaborative Ukrainian Experiment. This was the 12th landing for Columbia at KSC and the 41st KSC landing in the history of the Space Shuttle program KSC-97PC1746

STS-87 crew members regard the tiles underneath the orbiter Columbia s...

STS-87 crew members regard the tiles underneath the orbiter Columbia shortly after its return to Runway 33 at Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility. Pointing to the tiles is the president of the Natio... More

STS-87 Payload Specialist Leonid Kadenyuk of the National Space Agency of Ukraine (NSAU), at left, chats with NASA Administrator Daniel Goldin shortly after the landing of Columbia at Kennedy Space Center. Looking on is back-up Payload Specialist Yaroslav Pustovyi, also of NSAU. STS-87 concluded its mission with a main gear touchdown at 7:20:04 a.m. EST Dec. 5, at KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility Runway 33, drawing the 15-day, 16-hour and 34-minute-long mission of 6.5 million miles to a close. Also onboard the orbiter were Commander Kevin Kregel; Pilot Steven Lindsey; and Mission Specialists Winston Scott, Kalpana Chawla, Ph.D., and Takao Doi, Ph.D., of the National Space Development Agency of Japan. During the 88th Space Shuttle mission, the crew performed experiments on the United States Microgravity Payload-4 and pollinated plants as part of the Collaborative Ukrainian Experiment. This was the 12th landing for Columbia at KSC and the 41st KSC landing in the history of the Space Shuttle program KSC-97PC1755

STS-87 Payload Specialist Leonid Kadenyuk of the National Space Agency...

STS-87 Payload Specialist Leonid Kadenyuk of the National Space Agency of Ukraine (NSAU), at left, chats with NASA Administrator Daniel Goldin shortly after the landing of Columbia at Kennedy Space Center. Look... More

STS-87 Mission Specialist Takao Doi, Ph.D., of the National Space Development Agency (NASDA) of Japan greets a NASDA official shortly after the orbiter Columbia returned to KSC, touching down on Runway 33 at KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility. STS-87 concluded its mission with a main gear touchdown at 7:20:04 a.m. EST Dec. 5, drawing the 15-day, 16-hour and 34-minute-long mission of 6.5 million miles to a close. Also onboard the orbiter were Commander Kevin Kregel; Pilot Steven Lindsey; Mission Specialists Winston Scott and Kalpana Chawla, Ph.D.; and Payload Specialist Leonid Kadenyuk of the National Space Agency of Ukraine. During the 88th Space Shuttle mission, the crew performed experiments on the United States Microgravity Payload-4 and pollinated plants as part of the Collaborative Ukrainian Experiment. This was the 12th landing for Columbia at KSC and the 41st KSC landing in the history of the Space Shuttle program KSC-97PC1747

STS-87 Mission Specialist Takao Doi, Ph.D., of the National Space Deve...

STS-87 Mission Specialist Takao Doi, Ph.D., of the National Space Development Agency (NASDA) of Japan greets a NASDA official shortly after the orbiter Columbia returned to KSC, touching down on Runway 33 at KS... More

STS-87 Commander Kevin Kregel, center, shakes hands with the deputy director general of the National Space Agency of Ukraine (NSAU), Eduard Kuznetsov, at far right. Next to Kuznetsov is the Honorable Yuri Shcherbak, Ukraine's ambassador to the United States, standing with the president of the National Space Development Agency (NASDA) of Japan, Isao Uchida, and NASA Administrator Daniel Goldin (center). Approaching the VIPs from the left of the photo are Mission Specialists Kalpana Chawla, Ph.D., and Takao Doi, Ph.D., of NASDA. STS-87 concluded its mission with a main gear touchdown at 7:20:04 a.m. EST Dec. 5, at KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility Runway 33, drawing the 15-day, 16-hour and 34-minute-long mission of 6.5 million miles to a close. Also onboard the orbiter were Pilot Steven Lindsey; Mission Specialist Winston Scott; and Payload Specialist Leonid Kadenyuk of NSAU. During the 88th Space Shuttle mission, the crew performed experiments on the United States Microgravity Payload-4 and pollinated plants as part of the Collaborative Ukrainian Experiment. This was the 12th landing for Columbia at KSC and the 41st KSC landing in the history of the Space Shuttle program KSC-97PC1744

STS-87 Commander Kevin Kregel, center, shakes hands with the deputy di...

STS-87 Commander Kevin Kregel, center, shakes hands with the deputy director general of the National Space Agency of Ukraine (NSAU), Eduard Kuznetsov, at far right. Next to Kuznetsov is the Honorable Yuri Shche... More

The president of the National Space Development Agency (NASDA) of Japan, Isao Uchida, at left, chats with STS-87 Mission Specialist Takao Doi, Ph.D., of NASDA, shortly after the landing of Columbia at Kennedy Space Center. STS-87 concluded its mission with a main gear touchdown at 7:20:04 a.m. EST Dec. 5, at KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility Runway 33, drawing the 15-day, 16-hour and 34-minute-long mission of 6.5 million miles to a close. Also onboard the orbiter were Commander Kevin Kregel; Pilot Steven Lindsey; Mission Specialists Winston Scott and Kalpana Chawla, Ph.D.; and Payload Specialist Leonid Kadenyuk of the National Space Agency of Ukraine. During the 88th Space Shuttle mission, the crew performed experiments on the United States Microgravity Payload-4 and pollinated plants as part of the Collaborative Ukrainian Experiment. This was the 12th landing for Columbia at KSC and the 41st KSC landing in the history of the Space Shuttle program KSC-97PC1753

The president of the National Space Development Agency (NASDA) of Japa...

The president of the National Space Development Agency (NASDA) of Japan, Isao Uchida, at left, chats with STS-87 Mission Specialist Takao Doi, Ph.D., of NASDA, shortly after the landing of Columbia at Kennedy S... More

The president of the National Space Development Agency (NASDA) of Japan, Isao Uchida, at left, shakes hands with STS-87 Mission Specialist Takao Doi, Ph.D., of NASDA, shortly after the landing of Columbia at Kennedy Space Center. STS-87 concluded its mission with a main gear touchdown at 7:20:04 a.m. EST Dec. 5, at KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility Runway 33, drawing the 15-day, 16-hour and 34-minute-long mission of 6.5 million miles to a close. Also onboard the orbiter were Commander Kevin Kregel; Pilot Steven Lindsey; Mission Specialists Winston Scott and Kalpana Chawla, Ph.D.; and Payload Specialist Leonid Kadenyuk of the National Space Agency of Ukraine. During the 88th Space Shuttle mission, the crew performed experiments on the United States Microgravity Payload-4 and pollinated plants as part of the Collaborative Ukrainian Experiment. This was the 12th landing for Columbia at KSC and the 41st KSC landing in the history of the Space Shuttle program KSC-97PC1754

The president of the National Space Development Agency (NASDA) of Japa...

The president of the National Space Development Agency (NASDA) of Japan, Isao Uchida, at left, shakes hands with STS-87 Mission Specialist Takao Doi, Ph.D., of NASDA, shortly after the landing of Columbia at Ke... More

The STS-87 crew pose in front of the orbiter Columbia shortly after landing on Runway 33 at KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility. STS-87 concluded its mission with a main gear touchdown at 7:20:04 a.m. EST Dec. 5, drawing the 15-day, 16-hour and 34-minute-long mission of 6.5 million miles to a close. From left to right are Mission Specialists Winston Scott and Takao Doi, Ph.D., of the National Space Development Agency of Japan; Commander Kevin Kregel; Payload Specialist Leonid Kadenyuk of the National Space Agency of Ukraine; Mission Specialist Kalpana Chawla, Ph.D.; and Pilot Steven Lindsey. During the 88th Space Shuttle mission, the crew performed experiments on the United States Microgravity Payload-4 and pollinated plants as part of the Collaborative Ukrainian Experiment. This was the 12th landing for Columbia at KSC and the 41st KSC landing in the history of the Space Shuttle program KSC-97PC1745

The STS-87 crew pose in front of the orbiter Columbia shortly after la...

The STS-87 crew pose in front of the orbiter Columbia shortly after landing on Runway 33 at KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility. STS-87 concluded its mission with a main gear touchdown at 7:20:04 a.m. EST Dec. 5, dr... More

NASA Administrator Dan Goldin congratulates Phase I Shuttle/Mir Program Manager Frank Culbertson on the successful conclusion of Phase I of the joint U.S.-Russian International Space Station Program at KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility following Discovery's landing, as Mission Commander Charles J. Precourt (applauding) and the other members of the STS-91 flight crew look on. Culbertson is holding an American flag, a special wrench, and an optical disc, which he had just been presented by Goldin. The flag rode aboard Mir from the beginning of the Phase I program, the wrench was used on Mir and will be used on the International Space Station, and the optical disc holds data recorded on Mir. All of these items were brought back to Earth from Mir by the STS-91 crew. Discovery's main gear touchdown on Runway 15 was at 2:00:18 p.m. EDT on June 12, 1998, on orbit 155 of the mission. The wheels stopped at 2:01:22 p.m. EDT, for a total mission-elapsed time of 9 days, 19 hours, 55 minutes and 1 second. The 91st Shuttle mission was the 44th KSC landing in the history of the Space Shuttle program and the 15th consecutive landing at KSC. Besides Commander Precourt, the STS-91 flight crew also included Pilot Dominic L. Gorie and Mission Specialists Wendy B. Lawrence, Franklin R. Chang-Diaz, Janet Lynn Kavandi and Valery Victorovitch Ryumin of the Russian Space Agency. Astronaut Andrew S. W. Thomas also returned to Earth from Mir as an STS-91 crew member after 141 days in space KSC-98pc749

NASA Administrator Dan Goldin congratulates Phase I Shuttle/Mir Progra...

NASA Administrator Dan Goldin congratulates Phase I Shuttle/Mir Program Manager Frank Culbertson on the successful conclusion of Phase I of the joint U.S.-Russian International Space Station Program at KSC's Sh... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Startled by the almost silent appearance of the orbiter Discovery as it lands following the STS-91 mission, several birds hurriedly leave KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF) for a more secluded spot. The SLF is nestled among the wilds of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, home to over 300 species of birds. Discovery's main gear touchdown on Runway 15 was at 2:00:18 p.m. EDT on June 12, 1998, landing on orbit 155 of the mission. The wheels stopped at 2:01:22 p.m. EDT, for a total mission-elapsed time of 9 days, 19 hours, 55 minutes and 1 second. The 91st Shuttle mission was the 44th KSC landing in the history of the Space Shuttle program and the 15th consecutive landing at KSC. During the mission, the orbiter docked with the Russian space station Mir for the ninth time, concluding Phase I of the joint U.S.-Russian International Space Station Program. STS-91 also featured first flights for both the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer and the Space Shuttle super lightweight external tank. The STS-91 flight crew included Mission Commander Charles J. Precourt; Pilot Dominic L. Gorie; and Mission Specialists Wendy B. Lawrence, Franklin R. Chang-Diaz, Janet Lynn Kavandi and Valery Victorovitch Ryumin of the Russian Space Agency. Astronaut Andrew S. W. Thomas also returned to Earth as an STS-91 crew member after 141 days in space KSC-98pc739

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Startled by the almost silent appearance...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Startled by the almost silent appearance of the orbiter Discovery as it lands following the STS-91 mission, several birds hurriedly leave KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF) for a... More

STS-91 Mission Commander Charles J. Precourt (at microphone) presents an American flag, a special wrench, and an optical disc to NASA Administrator Dan Goldin following Discovery's landing at KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility, as Phase I Shuttle/Mir Program Manager Frank Culbertson and the other members of the STS-91 flight crew look on. This landing not only concluded the STS-91 mission, but Phase I of the joint U.S.-Russian International Space Station Program as well. The flag rode aboard Mir from the beginning of the Phase I program, the wrench was used on Mir and will be used on the International Space Station, and the optical disc holds data recorded on Mir. All of these items were brought back to Earth from Mir by the STS-91 crew. Discovery's main gear touchdown on Runway 15 was at 2:00:18 p.m. EDT on June 12, 1998, on orbit 155 of the mission. The wheels stopped at 2:01:22 p.m. EDT, for a total mission-elapsed time of 9 days, 19 hours, 55 minutes and 1 second. The 91st Shuttle mission was the 44th KSC landing in the history of the Space Shuttle program and the 15th consecutive landing at KSC. Besides Commander Precourt, the STS-91 flight crew also included Pilot Dominic L. Gorie and Mission Specialists Wendy B. Lawrence, Franklin R. Chang-Diaz, Janet Lynn Kavandi and Valery Victorovitch Ryumin of the Russian Space Agency. Astronaut Andrew S. W. Thomas also returned to Earth from Mir as an STS-91 crew member after 141 days in space KSC-98pc748

STS-91 Mission Commander Charles J. Precourt (at microphone) presents ...

STS-91 Mission Commander Charles J. Precourt (at microphone) presents an American flag, a special wrench, and an optical disc to NASA Administrator Dan Goldin following Discovery's landing at KSC's Shuttle Land... More

STS088-S-011 (15 Dec. 1998) --- NASA's final Space Shuttle mission of 1998 came to an ending with the landing of the Space Shuttle Endeavour at Kennedy Space Center (KSC).  Following a 4.6 million-mile journey, astronaut Robert D. Cabana, mission commander, guided the Orbiter down onto runway 15 with landing gear touchdown occurring at 10:54 p.m. (EST) January 15.  Others onboard were astronauts Frederick W. Sturckow, pilot; mission specialists Jerry L. Ross, Nancy J. Currie and James H. Newman; along with cosmonaut Sergei K. Krikalev, who represents the Russian Space Agency (RSA). sts088-s-011

STS088-S-011 (15 Dec. 1998) --- NASA's final Space Shuttle mission of ...

STS088-S-011 (15 Dec. 1998) --- NASA's final Space Shuttle mission of 1998 came to an ending with the landing of the Space Shuttle Endeavour at Kennedy Space Center (KSC). Following a 4.6 million-mile journey,... More

STS088-S-010 (15 Dec. 1998) --- NASA's final Space Shuttle mission of 1998 came to an ending with the landing of the Space Shuttle Endeavour at Kennedy Space Center (KSC).  Following a 4.6 million-mile journey, astronaut Robert D. Cabana, mission commander, guided the Orbiter down onto runway 15 with landing gear touchdown occurring at 10:54 p.m. (EST) January 15, 1998.  Others onboard were astronauts Frederick W. Sturckow, pilot; mission specialists Jerry L. Ross, Nancy J. Currie and James H. Newman; along with cosmonaut Sergei K. Krikalev, who represents the Russian Space Agency (RSA). sts088-s-010

STS088-S-010 (15 Dec. 1998) --- NASA's final Space Shuttle mission of ...

STS088-S-010 (15 Dec. 1998) --- NASA's final Space Shuttle mission of 1998 came to an ending with the landing of the Space Shuttle Endeavour at Kennedy Space Center (KSC). Following a 4.6 million-mile journey,... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At the Shuttle Landing Facility, NASA Administrator Daniel Goldin (foreground) talks with STS-93 Commander Eileen Collins beside the Space Shuttle orbiter Columbia following the successful completion of her mission. Marshall Space Flight Center Director Arthur G. Stephenson (far left) looks on. Landing occurred on runway 33 with main gear touchdown at 11:20:35 p.m. EDT on July 27. The mission's primary objective was to deploy the Chandra X-ray Observatory, which will allow scientists from around the world to study some of the most distant, powerful and dynamic objects in the universe. This was the 95th flight in the Space Shuttle program and the 26th for Columbia. The landing was the 19th consecutive Shuttle landing in Florida and the 12th night landing in Shuttle program history. On this mission, Collins became the first woman to serve as a Shuttle commander KSC-99pp0988

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At the Shuttle Landing Facility, NASA Ad...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At the Shuttle Landing Facility, NASA Administrator Daniel Goldin (foreground) talks with STS-93 Commander Eileen Collins beside the Space Shuttle orbiter Columbia following the su... More

At the Skid Strip at the Cape Canaveral Air Station, Commander Eileen Collins and her daughter, Bridget Youngs, prepare to board an aircraft for their return flight to Houston following the completion of the STS-93 Space Shuttle mission. Landing occurred on runway 33 at KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility on July 27 with main gear touchdown at 11:20:35 p.m. EDT. The mission's primary objective was to deploy the Chandra X-ray Observatory, which will allow scientists from around the world to study some of the most distant, powerful and dynamic objects in the universe. This was the 95th flight in the Space Shuttle program and the 26th for Columbia. The landing was the 19th consecutive Shuttle landing in Florida and the 12th night landing in Shuttle program history. On this mission, Collins became the first woman to serve as a Shuttle commander KSC-99pp0991

At the Skid Strip at the Cape Canaveral Air Station, Commander Eileen ...

At the Skid Strip at the Cape Canaveral Air Station, Commander Eileen Collins and her daughter, Bridget Youngs, prepare to board an aircraft for their return flight to Houston following the completion of the ST... More

At the Skid Strip at the Cape Canaveral Air Station, Mission Specialist Catherine G. Coleman (Ph.D.) and her husband, Josh Simpson, prepare to board an aircraft for their return flight to Houston following the completion of the STS-93 Space Shuttle mission. Landing occurred on runway 33 at KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility on July 27 with main gear touchdown at 11:20:35 p.m. EDT. The mission's primary objective was to deploy the Chandra X-ray Observatory, which will allow scientists from around the world to study some of the most distant, powerful and dynamic objects in the universe. This was the 95th flight in the Space Shuttle program and the 26th for Columbia. The landing was the 19th consecutive Shuttle landing in Florida and the 12th night landing in Shuttle program history. On this mission, Eileen Collins became the first woman to serve as a Shuttle commander KSC-99pp0992

At the Skid Strip at the Cape Canaveral Air Station, Mission Specialis...

At the Skid Strip at the Cape Canaveral Air Station, Mission Specialist Catherine G. Coleman (Ph.D.) and her husband, Josh Simpson, prepare to board an aircraft for their return flight to Houston following the ... More

At the Skid Strip at the Cape Canaveral Air Station, Mission Specialist Michel Tognini of France, representing the Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES), and his daughter Tatinana prepare to board an aircraft for their return flight to Houston following the completion of the STS-93 Space Shuttle mission. Landing occurred on runway 33 at KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility on July 27 with main gear touchdown at 11:20:35 p.m. EDT. The mission's primary objective was to deploy the Chandra X-ray Observatory, which will allow scientists from around the world to study some of the most distant, powerful and dynamic objects in the universe. This was the 95th flight in the Space Shuttle program and the 26th for Columbia. The landing was the 19th consecutive Shuttle landing in Florida and the 12th night landing in Shuttle program history. On this mission, Eileen Collins became the first woman to serve as a Shuttle commander KSC-99pp0990

At the Skid Strip at the Cape Canaveral Air Station, Mission Specialis...

At the Skid Strip at the Cape Canaveral Air Station, Mission Specialist Michel Tognini of France, representing the Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES), and his daughter Tatinana prepare to board an aircra... More

At the Skid Strip at the Cape Canaveral Air Station, Commander Eileen Collins and her daughter Bridget Youngs prepare to board an aircraft for their return flight to Houston following the completion of the STS-93 Space Shuttle mission. Landing occurred on runway 33 at KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility with main gear touchdown at 11:20:35 p.m. EDT on July 27. The mission's primary objective was to deploy the Chandra X-ray Observatory, which will allow scientists from around the world to study some of the most distant, powerful and dynamic objects in the universe. This was the 95th flight in the Space Shuttle program and the 26th for Columbia. The landing was the 19th consecutive Shuttle landing in Florida and the 12th night landing in Shuttle program history. On this mission, Collins became the first woman to serve as a Shuttle commander KSC-99pp0993

At the Skid Strip at the Cape Canaveral Air Station, Commander Eileen ...

At the Skid Strip at the Cape Canaveral Air Station, Commander Eileen Collins and her daughter Bridget Youngs prepare to board an aircraft for their return flight to Houston following the completion of the STS-... More

At the Shuttle Landing Facility (from left to right), STS-93 Mission Specialist Michel Tognini of France, representing the Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES), and NASA Administrator Daniel Goldin talk with Jacques Ratie, Astronaut Director, CNES, and Serge Plattard, International Relations, CNES. Landing occurred on runway 33 with main gear touchdown at 11:20:35 p.m. EDT on July 27. The mission's primary objective was to deploy the Chandra X-ray Observatory, which will allow scientists from around the world to study some of the most distant, powerful and dynamic objects in the universe. This was the 95th flight in the Space Shuttle program and the 26th for Columbia. The landing was the 19th consecutive Shuttle landing in Florida and the 12th night landing in Shuttle program history. On this mission, Eileen Collins became the first woman to serve as a Shuttle commander KSC-99pp0989

At the Shuttle Landing Facility (from left to right), STS-93 Mission S...

At the Shuttle Landing Facility (from left to right), STS-93 Mission Specialist Michel Tognini of France, representing the Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES), and NASA Administrator Daniel Goldin talk wi... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- Atlantis’ main gear touchdown on Runway 15 of the KSC Shuttle Landing Facility kicks up swirls of dust reflected in the runway lights. Atlantis and crew traveled 4.9 million miles on the 11-day, 19-hour, 11-minute mission STS-106. Main gear touchdown occurred on-time at 3:56:48 a.m. EDT. During the mission to the International Space Station, the crew transferred nearly 5,000 pounds of equipment and supplies for use by the first resident crew expected to arrive in November. STS-106 was the 99th flight in the Shuttle program and the 22nd for Atlantis. STS-106 also marked the 15th nighttime landing in Shuttle history and the 23rd consecutive landing at KSC KSC-00pp1401

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- Atlantis’ main gear touchdown on Runway ...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- Atlantis’ main gear touchdown on Runway 15 of the KSC Shuttle Landing Facility kicks up swirls of dust reflected in the runway lights. Atlantis and crew traveled 4.9 million miles ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- Atlantis’ main gear touchdown on Runway 15 of the KSC Shuttle Landing Facility kicks up swirls of dust reflected in the runway lights. Atlantis and crew traveled 4.9 million miles on the 11-day, 19-hour, 11-minute mission STS-106. Main gear touchdown occurred on-time at 3:56:48 a.m. EDT. During the mission to the International Space Station, the crew transferred nearly 5,000 pounds of equipment and supplies for use by the first resident crew expected to arrive in November. STS-106 was the 99th flight in the Shuttle program and the 22nd for Atlantis. STS-106 also marked the 15th nighttime landing in Shuttle history and the 23rd consecutive landing at KSC KSC00pp1401

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- Atlantis’ main gear touchdown on Runway ...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- Atlantis’ main gear touchdown on Runway 15 of the KSC Shuttle Landing Facility kicks up swirls of dust reflected in the runway lights. Atlantis and crew traveled 4.9 million miles ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. --  After a successful landing at the KSC Shuttle Landing Facility, completing mission STS-108, Commander Dominic L. Gorie (left) talks with Acting NASA Administrator Daniel Mulville (center) and White House liaison Courtney Stadd.  Endeavour carried both the mission crew and the Expedition 3 crew -- Commander Frank Culbertson and cosmonauts Vladimir Dezhurov and Mikhail Tyurin -- who returned to Earth after 129 days on the International Space Station.  Completing a mission-elapsed time of 11 days, 19 hours and 35 minutes, Endeavour had main gear touchdown at 12:55:10 p.m. EST (17:55:10 GMT).  Nose gear touchdown occurred at 12:55:23 p.m. (17:55:23 GMT); wheel stop at 12:56:13 p.m. (17:56:13 GMT). Rollout distance was 8,941 feet.  The landing is the 57th at KSC in the history of the program   STS-108 was the 12th mission to the Space Station.  This mission was the 107th flight in the Shuttle program and the 17th flight for the orbiter KSC01pd1848

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- After a successful landing at the KSC S...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- After a successful landing at the KSC Shuttle Landing Facility, completing mission STS-108, Commander Dominic L. Gorie (left) talks with Acting NASA Administrator Daniel Mulville ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. --  With its drag chute billowing behind, orbiter Endeavour slows for a full touchdown on Runway 15 at the KSC Shuttle Landing Facility, completing mission STS-108. Endeavour carries both the mission crew and the Expedition 3 crew - Commander Frank Culbertson and cosmonauts Vladimir Dezhurov and Mikhail Tyurin - who are returning to Earth after 129 days in space on the International Space Station.  After a mission-elapsed time of 11 days, 19 hours and 35 minutes, Endeavour had main gear touchdown at 12:55:10 p.m. EST (17:55:10 GMT).  Nose gear touchdown occurred at 12:55:23 p.m. (17:55:23 GMT); wheel stop at 12:56:13 p.m. (17:56:13 GMT). Rollout distance was 8,941 feet.  The landing is the 57th at KSC in the history of the program   STS-108 was the 12th mission to the Space Station.  This mission was the 107th flight in the Shuttle program and the 17th flight for the orbiter KSC-01PP1836

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- With its drag chute billowing behind, o...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- With its drag chute billowing behind, orbiter Endeavour slows for a full touchdown on Runway 15 at the KSC Shuttle Landing Facility, completing mission STS-108. Endeavour carries ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. --  Orbiter Endeavour kicks up dust as it touches down on Runway 15 at the KSC Shuttle Landing Facility, completing mission STS-108. Endeavour carries both the mission crew and the Expedition 3 crew - Commander Frank Culbertson and cosmonauts Vladimir Dezhurov and Mikhail Tyurin - who are returning to Earth after 129 days in space on the International Space Station.  After a mission-elapsed time of 11 days, 19 hours and 35 minutes, Endeavour had main gear touchdown at 12:55:10 p.m. EST (17:55:10 GMT).  Nose gear touchdown occurred at 12:55:23 p.m. (17:55:23 GMT); wheel stop at 12:56:13 p.m. (17:56:13 GMT). Rollout distance was 8,941 feet.  The landing is the 57th at KSC in the history of the program   STS-108 was the 12th mission to the Space Station.  This mission was the 107th flight in the Shuttle program and the 17th flight for the orbiter KSC01PD1842

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Orbiter Endeavour kicks up dust as it t...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Orbiter Endeavour kicks up dust as it touches down on Runway 15 at the KSC Shuttle Landing Facility, completing mission STS-108. Endeavour carries both the mission crew and the Ex... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. --   Endeavour raises dust as it glides to a smooth landing on Runway 15 at the KSC Shuttle Landing Facility, completing mission STS-108.  Endeavour carries both the mission crew and the Expedition 3 crew - Commander Frank Culbertson and cosmonauts Vladimir Dezhurov and Mikhail Tyurin - who are returning to Earth after 129 days in space on the International Space Station.  After a mission-elapsed time of 11 days, 19 hours and 35 minutes, Endeavour had main gear touchdown at 12:55:10 p.m. EST (17:55:10 GMT).  Nose gear touchdown occurred at 12:55:23 p.m. (17:55:23 GMT); wheel stop at 12:56:13 p.m. (17:56:13 GMT). Rollout distance was 8,941 feet.  The landing is the 57th at KSC in the history of the program   STS-108 was the 12th mission to the Space Station.  This mission was the 107th flight in the Shuttle program and the 17th flight for the orbiter KSC-01PP1854

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Endeavour raises dust as it glides to ...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Endeavour raises dust as it glides to a smooth landing on Runway 15 at the KSC Shuttle Landing Facility, completing mission STS-108. Endeavour carries both the mission crew and ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. --  Workers gather around space shuttle Discovery after its near-perfect landing on Runway 33 of the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center.  Completing the 15-day mission STS-120, main gear touchdown was 1:01:16 p.m.  Wheel stop was at 1:02:07 p.m.  Mission elapsed time was 15 days, 2 hours, 24 minutes and 2 seconds.   The STS-120 crew continued the construction of the station with the installation of the Harmony Node 2 module and the relocation of the P6 truss. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-07pd3168

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Workers gather around space shuttle Dis...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Workers gather around space shuttle Discovery after its near-perfect landing on Runway 33 of the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. Completing the 15-day mi... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. --  With main gear down on Runway 33, space shuttle Discovery nears nose gear touchdown on the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center.  Completing mission STS-120, main gear touchdown was 1:01:16 p.m.  Wheel stop was at 1:02:07 p.m.  Mission elapsed time was 15 days, 2 hours, 24 minutes and 2 seconds. The STS-120 crew continued the construction of the station with the installation of the Harmony Node 2 module and the relocation of the P6 truss. Photo credit: NASA/Tom Farrar KSC-07pd3154

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- With main gear down on Runway 33, space...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- With main gear down on Runway 33, space shuttle Discovery nears nose gear touchdown on the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. Completing mission STS-120, ma... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, STS-127 crew members are greeted by NASA officials. From left, President of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency Keiji Tachikawa shakes the hand of Pilot Doug Hurley; JEM Development Project Team Project Manager Koki Oikawa and Acting Administrator of Exploration Systems Doug Cook greet Mission Specialist Julie Payette, with the Canadian Space Agency; Associate Administrator for Space Operations William Gerstenmaier and Kennedy Center Director Bob Cabana greet Mission Specialist Tom Marshburn; and Mission Specialist Dave Wolf follows.  The crew returned to Earth on space shuttle Endeavour to complete the 16-day, 6.5-million mile journey on the STS-127 mission to the International Space Station.  Endeavour's main gear touchdown was at 10:48:08 a.m. EDT. Nose gear touchdown was at 10:48:21 a.m. and wheels stop was at 10:49:13 a.m. Endeavour delivered the Japanese Experiment Module's Exposed Facility and the Experiment Logistics Module-Exposed Section to the International Space Station. The mission was the 29th flight to the station, the 23rd flight of Endeavour and the 127th in the Space Shuttle Program, as well as the 71st landing at Kennedy.   Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2009-4315

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, STS-...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, STS-127 crew members are greeted by NASA officials. From left, President of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency Keiji Tachikawa shakes the ha... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Director of Launch Vehicle Processing Rita Willcoxon points out an area near the landing gear on space shuttle Endeavour to Associate Administrator for Space Operations William Gerstenmaier.  Endeavour landed at 10:48 a.m. EDT, completing the 6.5-million mile journey on the STS-127 mission to the International Space Station. Endeavour's main gear touchdown was at 10:48:08 a.m. EDT. Nose gear touchdown was at 10:48:21 a.m. and wheels stop was at 10:49:13 a.m. Endeavour delivered the Japanese Experiment Module's Exposed Facility and the Experiment Logistics Module-Exposed Section to the International Space Station. The mission was the 29th flight to the station, the 23rd flight of Endeavour and the 127th in the Space Shuttle Program, as well as the 71st landing at Kennedy.   Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2009-4309

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Director of Launch Vehicle Processing Rita Will...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Director of Launch Vehicle Processing Rita Willcoxon points out an area near the landing gear on space shuttle Endeavour to Associate Administrator for Space Operations William Gerstenmai... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA Administrator Charles Bolden (left) waits underneath space shuttle Endeavour for the STS-127 crew to emerge from the crew transport vehicle.  Endeavour's landing completed the 16-day, 6.5-million mile journey on the STS-127 mission to the International Space Station.  Endeavour's main gear touchdown was at 10:48:08 a.m. EDT. Nose gear touchdown was at 10:48:21 a.m. and wheels stop was at 10:49:13 a.m. Endeavour delivered the Japanese Experiment Module's Exposed Facility and the Experiment Logistics Module-Exposed Section to the International Space Station. The mission was the 29th flight to the station, the 23rd flight of Endeavour and the 127th in the Space Shuttle Program, as well as the 71st landing at Kennedy.   Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2009-4308

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA Administrator Charles Bolden (left) waits ...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA Administrator Charles Bolden (left) waits underneath space shuttle Endeavour for the STS-127 crew to emerge from the crew transport vehicle. Endeavour's landing completed the 16-day... More

STS095-S-012 (7 Nov. 1998) --- The space shuttle Discovery is about to lower its nose wheel following main gear touchdown on Runway 33 at the Shuttle Landing Facility at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC). Main gear touchdown was at 12:04 p.m. (EST), landing on orbit 135. Discovery returned to Earth with its crew of five astronauts and two payload specialists to successfully complete the nine-day mission. Onboard were astronauts Curtis L. Brown Jr., Steven W. Lindsey, Scott F. Parazynski, Stephen K. Robinson, Pedro Duque and payload specialists Chiaki Naito-Mukai and United States Senator John H. Glenn Jr. Duque represents the European Space Agency (ESA) and Mukai is with Japan's National Space Development Agency (NASDA). Photo credit: NASA sts095-s-012

STS095-S-012 (7 Nov. 1998) --- The space shuttle Discovery is about to...

STS095-S-012 (7 Nov. 1998) --- The space shuttle Discovery is about to lower its nose wheel following main gear touchdown on Runway 33 at the Shuttle Landing Facility at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC). Main gea... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - STS-129 Commander Charles O. Hobaugh participates in a news conference in the NASA Press Site auditorium at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on landing day.  Space shuttle Atlantis' main gear touchdown on Kennedy's Shuttle Landing Facility was at 9:44:23 a.m. EST. Nose gear touchdown was at 9:44:36 a.m., and wheels stop was at 9:45:05 a.m.  STS-129 is the final space shuttle Expedition crew rotation flight on the manifest.  On STS-129, the crew delivered 14 tons of cargo to the orbiting laboratory, including two ExPRESS Logistics Carriers containing spare parts to sustain station operations after the shuttles are retired next year.  For information on the STS-129 mission and crew, visit http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts129/index.html.     Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2009-6597

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - STS-129 Commander Charles O. Hobaugh participat...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - STS-129 Commander Charles O. Hobaugh participates in a news conference in the NASA Press Site auditorium at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on landing day. Space shuttle Atlantis'... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Crew members of space shuttle Atlantis' STS-129 mission participate in a news conference in the NASA Press Site auditorium at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on landing day.  From left are NASA Public Affairs moderator George Diller; Commander Charles O. Hobaugh; Pilot Barry E. Wilmore; and Mission Specialists Leland Melvin, Mike Foreman and Robert L. Satcher Jr.  Not participating is Mission Specialist Randy Bresnik who left for Houston earlier in the day, anxious to meet his new daughter who was born during the mission. Atlantis' main gear touchdown on Kennedy's Shuttle Landing Facility was at 9:44:23 a.m. EST. Nose gear touchdown was at 9:44:36 a.m., and wheels stop was at 9:45:05 a.m.  Expedition 20 and 21 Flight Engineer Nicole Stott, who spent 87 days on the International Space Station, also returned from orbit aboard Atlantis.  STS-129 is the final space shuttle Expedition crew rotation flight on the manifest.  On STS-129, the crew delivered 14 tons of cargo to the orbiting laboratory, including two ExPRESS Logistics Carriers containing spare parts to sustain station operations after the shuttles are retired next year.  For information on the STS-129 mission and crew, visit http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts129/index.html. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2009-6595

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Crew members of space shuttle Atlantis' STS-129...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Crew members of space shuttle Atlantis' STS-129 mission participate in a news conference in the NASA Press Site auditorium at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on landing day. From ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - STS-129 Pilot Barry E. Wilmore participates in a news conference in the NASA Press Site auditorium at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on landing day.  Space shuttle Atlantis' main gear touchdown on Kennedy's Shuttle Landing Facility was at 9:44:23 a.m. EST. Nose gear touchdown was at 9:44:36 a.m., and wheels stop was at 9:45:05 a.m.  STS-129 is the final space shuttle Expedition crew rotation flight on the manifest.  On STS-129, the crew delivered 14 tons of cargo to the orbiting laboratory, including two ExPRESS Logistics Carriers containing spare parts to sustain station operations after the shuttles are retired next year.  For information on the STS-129 mission and crew, visit http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts129/index.html.     Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2009-6596

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - STS-129 Pilot Barry E. Wilmore participates in ...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - STS-129 Pilot Barry E. Wilmore participates in a news conference in the NASA Press Site auditorium at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on landing day. Space shuttle Atlantis' main ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - STS-129 Mission Specialist Mike Foreman participates in a news conference in the NASA Press Site auditorium at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on landing day.  Space shuttle Atlantis' main gear touchdown on Kennedy's Shuttle Landing Facility was at 9:44:23 a.m. EST. Nose gear touchdown was at 9:44:36 a.m., and wheels stop was at 9:45:05 a.m.  STS-129 is the final space shuttle Expedition crew rotation flight on the manifest.  On STS-129, the crew delivered 14 tons of cargo to the orbiting laboratory, including two ExPRESS Logistics Carriers containing spare parts to sustain station operations after the shuttles are retired next year.  For information on the STS-129 mission and crew, visit http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts129/index.html.     Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2009-6599

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - STS-129 Mission Specialist Mike Foreman partici...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - STS-129 Mission Specialist Mike Foreman participates in a news conference in the NASA Press Site auditorium at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on landing day. Space shuttle Atlant... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Crew members of space shuttle Atlantis' STS-129 mission participate in a news conference in the NASA Press Site auditorium at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on landing day.  From left are Commander Charles O. Hobaugh; Pilot Barry E. Wilmore; and Mission Specialists Leland Melvin, Mike Foreman and Robert L. Satcher Jr.  Not participating is Mission Specialist Randy Bresnik who left for Houston earlier in the day, anxious to meet his new daughter who was born during the mission. Atlantis' main gear touchdown on Kennedy's Shuttle Landing Facility was at 9:44:23 a.m. EST. Nose gear touchdown was at 9:44:36 a.m., and wheels stop was at 9:45:05 a.m.  Expedition 20 and 21 Flight Engineer Nicole Stott, who spent 87 days on the International Space Station, also returned from orbit aboard Atlantis.  STS-129 is the final space shuttle Expedition crew rotation flight on the manifest.  On STS-129, the crew delivered 14 tons of cargo to the orbiting laboratory, including two ExPRESS Logistics Carriers containing spare parts to sustain station operations after the shuttles are retired next year.  For information on the STS-129 mission and crew, visit http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts129/index.html.     Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2009-6600

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Crew members of space shuttle Atlantis' STS-129...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Crew members of space shuttle Atlantis' STS-129 mission participate in a news conference in the NASA Press Site auditorium at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on landing day. From ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - STS-129 Mission Specialist Leland Melvin participates in a news conference in the NASA Press Site auditorium at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on landing day.  Space shuttle Atlantis' main gear touchdown on Kennedy's Shuttle Landing Facility was at 9:44:23 a.m. EST. Nose gear touchdown was at 9:44:36 a.m., and wheels stop was at 9:45:05 a.m.  STS-129 is the final space shuttle Expedition crew rotation flight on the manifest.  On STS-129, the crew delivered 14 tons of cargo to the orbiting laboratory, including two ExPRESS Logistics Carriers containing spare parts to sustain station operations after the shuttles are retired next year.  For information on the STS-129 mission and crew, visit http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts129/index.html.     Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2009-6598

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - STS-129 Mission Specialist Leland Melvin partic...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - STS-129 Mission Specialist Leland Melvin participates in a news conference in the NASA Press Site auditorium at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on landing day. Space shuttle Atlan... More