WIKIARCHIVES.SPACE

Surrounded by her family, U.S. astronaut Shannon W. Lucid answers questions from KSC Public Affairs official Lisa Malone about her record-setting stay aboard the Russian Space Station Mir. Standing behind Lucid are, from left, husband Michael, daughter Kawai, son Michael, son-in-law Jeff Richeson, and daughter Shandara. Lucid returned to Earth earlier today aboard the orbiter Atlantis, wrapping up a 188-day spaceflight that represents a U.S. long-duration spaceflight record as well as the longest stay in space by a woman. Lucid and the other five STS-79 astronauts are spending the night here in the Operations and Checkout Building before returning to Johnson Space Center in Houston. Atlantis touched down on Runway 15 of KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility at 8:13:15 a.m. EDT.