STS-96


STS-96 was a Space Shuttle mission to the International Space Station flown by Space Shuttle Discovery, and the first shuttle flight to dock at the International Space Station. The shuttle carried the Spacehab module in the payload, filled with cargo for station outfitting. STS-96 launched from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on 27 May 1999 at 06:49:42 AM EDT and returned to Kennedy on June 6, 1999, 2:02:43 AM EDT.

Crew

Space walk

STS-96 was a logistics and resupply mission for the International Space Station carrying the Spacehab Double Module 13th Spacehab overall.
Space Shuttle Discovery carried to the ISS an Integrated Cargo Carrier with parts for the Russian cargo crane STRELA, which was mounted to the exterior of the Russian station segment. Furthermore, the ICC carried the SPACEHAB Oceaneering Space System Box and the "ORU Transfer Device", a U.S. built crane.
Other payloads on STS-96 were the Student Tracked Atmospheric Research Satellite for Heuristic International Networking Equipment, the Shuttle Vibration Forces Experiment and the Orbiter Integrated Vehicle Health Monitoring – HEDS Technology Demonstration.
The STARSHINE satellite consists of an inert, hollow sphere covered by 1,000 evenly distributed, flat, polished mirrors, each 1 inch in diameter. The payload consists of the STARSHINE satellite, integrated with the Pallet Ejection System, then mounted inside a lidless carrier. The HH equipment consists of one HH Lightweight Avionics Plate, then mounted inside a lidless carrier. Additional HH equipment consists of one Hitchhiker Ejection System Electronics, one 5.0 cubic-foot HH canister, and one Adapter Beam Assembly. The purpose of the mission was to train international student volunteer observers to visually track this optically reflective spacecraft during morning and evening twilight intervals for several months, calculate its orbit from shared observations, and derive atmospheric density from drag-induced changes in its orbit over time.
The Shuttle Vibration Forces Experiment provided flight measurements of the vibratory forces acting between an aerospace payload and its mounting structure. The force transducers were incorporated into four custom brackets which replaced the existing brackets used to attach the 5 ft standard canister to the side wall GAS adapter beam. The payload was activated automatically by the Orbiter Lift-off vibration and operated for approximately 100 seconds. STS-96 was the second flight of the SVF experiment.
The purpose of the Orbiter Integrated Vehicle Health Monitoring- HEDS Technology Demonstration was to demonstrate competing modern, off-the-shelf sensing technologies in an operational environment to make informed design decisions for the eventual Orbiter upgrade IVHM. The objective of IVHM was to reduce planned ground processing, streamline problem troubleshooting, enhance visibility into systems operation and improve overall vehicle safety.
A copy of Blizzard Entertainment's StarCraft real-time strategy game was also flown aboard STS-96. It resides at Blizzard's headquarters in Irvine, CA.

Wake-up calls

NASA began a tradition of playing music to astronauts during the Gemini program, which was first used to wake up a flight crew during Apollo 15.
Each track is specially chosen, often by their families, and usually has a special meaning to an individual member of the crew, or is applicable to their daily activities.
Flight DaySongArtist/ComposerLinks
Day 2"California Dreamin"Mamas and the Papas
Day 3"Danger Zone"Kenny Loggins
Day 4Themes from Star WarsSpace Center Intermediate Band
Day 5"Morning Colors"US Coast Guard Band
Day 6"Amarillo by Morning"George Strait
Day 7"Exultate Jubilate"Mozart
Day 9"Free Bird"Lynyrd Skynyrd