WIKIARCHIVES.SPACE

Wearing their orange launch and entry spacesuits, members of the STS-84 crew are all smiles as they pose for a group photograph at Launch Pad 39A with the Space Shuttle Atlantis in the background. Kneeling in front are Mission Specialists Jean-Francois Clervoy, at right, of the European Space Agency, and Carlos I. Noriega. Standing, from left, are Mission Specialist Elena V. Kondakova of the Russian Space Agency, Pilot Eileen Marie Collins, Mission Specialists C. Michael Foale and Edward Tsang Lu, and Commander Charles J. Precourt. STS-84 aboard Atlantis will be the sixth docking of the Space Shuttle with the Russian Space Station Mir. After docking, Foale will transfer to the space station and become a member of the Mir 23 crew, replacing U.S. astronaut Jerry M. Linenger, who will return to Earth aboard Atlantis. Foale will live and work on Mir until mid-September when his replacement is expected to arrive on the STS-86 mission. STS-84 is targeted for a May 15 liftoff.