Mission

A publication of the
Highlights
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration STS-91 IS-1998-06-001.091JSC
June 1998

Discovery’s landing
begins second
phase
As Discovery glided out of a
cloud-speckled sky and rolled to a
smooth landing, bringing the Phase 1
Shuttle-Mir docking program to a
close, astronauts and agency
managers turned their full attention to
the next phase, the construction of the
International Space Station.
Commander Charlie Precourt
presented three legacies to Phase 1
Program Manager Frank Culbertson
and NASA Administrator Daniel
Goldin “in hopes that they can pass
these to the first crews that go to the
NASA Photo 7-726-063c
International Space Station symbolic- This perspective of the shuttle affords a clear look at the layout of the cargo
ally leading them with the lessons bay, revealing the open bay doors; the docking apparatus for connecting to Mir
learned in Phase 1.” (near cabin), the tunnel; the SPACEHAB module (second element from aft); the
The mementos included an Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (near aft firewall); and the Ku-band antenna for
American flag that hung on the wall communications (near cabin).
of Mir for every press event by
American astronauts, an EVA tool
used by the Russians on Mir, and an
optical disk used to collect scientific
Space Shuttle Discovery
data during Phase 1. June 2–12, 1998
Culbertson vowed to take good
care of the items, and with the help of
his Russian counterpart, Valery
Commander: Charlie Precourt
Ryumin, “put them to good use.” Pilot: Dom Gorie
Mission Events Mission Specialists: Franklin Chang-Díaz
The Shuttle Discovery launched
from Kennedy Space Center at Wendy Lawrence
5:06 p.m. CDT on June 2, 1998, to Janet Kavandi
begin the last docking mission of the
U.S. Space Shuttle to the Russian Valery Ryumin
Space Station Mir.
The actual docking occurred at
Andy Thomas
Johnson Space Center Office of Public Affairs Education and Community Support Branch / AP2
 Earth’s orbit. The was an international collaboration of
scientific goal of this scientists from 37 research
high-energy physics institutions. The U.S. Department of
experiment was to Energy sponsored the U.S. portion of
increase our the AMS experiment.
understanding of the
composition and
origin of the SPACE EXPERIMENT
universe. It was MODULE
designed to detect
and catalogue with a The Effect of Microgravity on
high degree of Crossing-Over in Sordaria
precision high- Fimicola: Studied the effect of
STS091-358-011 energy charged microgravity on the union between
Astronauts Charlie Precourt and Wendy Lawrence look particles, including strains of a species of the fungus
over a copy of the flight plan. antimatter, outside called Sordaria Fimicola. The
the Earth’s principle investigator was Wading
11:58 a.m. CDT on June 4, with the atmosphere. The charge of such River High School in Shoreham, NY.
hatch opening at 1:34 p.m. Following particles can be identified only by
4 days of docked operations, which their trajectories in a magnetic field. Crystal Growth in Microgravity:
saw the transfer of supplies AMS is intended to look for Added to the general knowledge of
to the Mir and the return to the antimatter supposedly left over after crystal growth behavior in a
shuttle of the last American inhabitant the creation of the universe according microgravity environment.
of the Russian station, the hatches to the “Big Bang” theory. It also will Exceptionally pure crystals are
were again closed at 8:07 a.m. on look for signs of “dark matter” that regularly grown in space to aid
June 8, and the two vehicles has been theorized to constitute most materials, semiconductor and medical
separated at 11:01 a.m. CDT. of the universe. research. The principle investigator
In addition to the Mir docking The Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer was Tomasita Young Astronauts Club,
operations, the STS-91 crew is a particle detector that weighs Albuquerque, NM.
conducted a series of on-orbit 3-1/2 tons and consists of five major
experiments. elements: a permanent magnet, time- Norfolk, VA, Public Schools
The Discovery ended its mission of-flight scintillators, a silicon Science and Technology Advanced
with a landing at the Kennedy Space microstrip tracker, anti-coincidence Research (NORSTAR): This
Center on June 12, 1998, at counters and an aerogel Cerenkov payload involved two experiments:
1:00 p.m. CDT. threshold counter. The AMS also has The Effect of Microgravity on
electronics, a support structure and Development of Daphnia,
SPACEHAB interfaces to computers on the Space Eubranchipus and Triops Eggs and
The SPACEHAB single module Shuttle and at Johnson Space Center. the Separation of Immiscible Fluids
was a pressurized, mixed-cargo NASA will fly AMS twice. During in Microgravity experiments.
carrier designed to augment the STS-91, AMS will
Orbiter middeck by providing a total have 100 hours of
cargo capacity of up to 4,000 pounds. dedicated system
The SPACEHAB Universal checkout and data
Communication System (SHUCS) gathering. During
payload was used to send and receive the Space Station
telephone voice and faxes, as well as mission, AMS will
provide video images of the crew be an externally
from the SPACEHAB module, to test attached payload and
the improved availability of payload gather data for three
uplink and downlink communications years.
with the ground. MIT Professor
and Nobel Laureate
STS-91 SCIENCE Dr. Samuel Ting
The Alpha Magnetic headed the STS091-403-019
Spectrometer (AMS): The first large experiment. The Astronaut Janet Kavandi checks out the Orbiter Space
magnet experiment ever placed in AMS experiment Vision Systems on the flight deck.
 Boy Scouts Troop 177 and Four Comparative
Rivers District, Gambrills, MD – Microgravity
Merit Badge Madness: Determined Response of Fungi
how the environment of space and and Mold: Studied
radiation affect soil, water, and seed the effect of
samples and their yield when planted. microgravity on the
reproductive and
Can Do Project, Charleston, SC: growth mechanisms
This payload involved the Magnetic of simple plant
Attraction Viewed In Space (MAVIS) species. The
and the Big Experiments in Small principle investi-
Tubes (BEST) experiments. gator was Grand
Coulee (Wash.)
Cosmic Radiation Effects on Elementary School. STS091-403-019

Programmable Logic Devices Astronaut Dom Gorie makes a meal at the galley.
(CREPLD): Determined the effects The Effect of
of cosmic radiation on unshielded Microgravity on
Programmable Logic Devices Plant Seeds: The experiment aimed the CPCG payload was to grow
(PLDs). PLDs are integrated circuits to be a basis for understanding the parasitic enzyme crystals in space for
which can be programmed to perform growth patterns of microgravity- the ChagaSpace Project. ChagaSpace
many functions. The potential exposed grains, seed-bearing plants, is a joint project between NASA and
scientific value of these measure- fruits, nuts, and trees. The principle several universities and institutions,
ments was the determination of the investigator was Olin-Sang-Ruby with EARTH College as the
amount of shielding needed for PLDs Union Institute, Ocononmowoc, WI. coordinating entity to study Chagas
to be reliable in space. The principle disease. It is estimated that the
investigator was Purdue University, Flower Garden in Space: The disease causes approximately 20,000
West Lafayette, IN. effect of microgravity and deaths per year. Growing higher
temperature exposure on flower and quality crystals in space often yields
WESTAR: An assortment of foliage seeds was studied. The higher resolution data important for
passive experiment items including principle investigator was the Virginia developing drugs against diseases.
seeds, soils, and other organic Parent Teachers and Students
materials were flown in polycarbonate Association, Accomac, VA. SOLID SURFACE
vials. The principle investigator was COMBUSTION EXPERIMENT
Woodmore Elementary School, Effects of Microgravity on (SSCE): Designed to characterize
Mitchellville, MD. Sordaria Fimicola: Studied the flame spreading in microgravity and
effects of microgravity on the its differences from normal gravity
The Effect of Spaceflight on reproduction of the fungus Sordaria behavior, leading to a better
Food Yield: A medley of food Fimicola. The principle investigator understanding of the physical
materials contained in NASA- was Wicomico High School, processes involved. The principle
provided polycarbonate vials were Salisbury, MD. investigators were Washington State
included and factors such as vitality, University and NASA Lewis
growth rate, yield, volume, etc., were Research Center, Cleveland, OH.
measured. The principle investigator GET AWAY SPECIALS
was Chesapeake Bay Girl Scout (GAS) EXPERIMENTS GROWTH AND MORPH-
Council, Salisbury, MD. OLOGY, BOILING, AND
The Get Away Special program for CRITICAL FLUCTUATIONS
Exposure of the Space placing non-interactive experiments IN PHASE SEPARATING
Experiment Module (SEM) to the on the shuttle continued with four SUPERCRITICAL FLUIDS
Space Environment: Investigated the experiments manifested by the (GMSF): Increased our knowledge in
effects of the space environment on Goddard Space Flight Center. the fundamental science of critical
electronic data storage, electrical fluids. Further development of the
circuits, magnetized metals, growth IN-CABIN PAYLOADS theories to fully predict the behavior
of simple plants, and photographic of these fluids is useful in
film sensitivity. The principle COMMERCIAL PROTEIN manufacturing processes and
investigator was Excel Interactive CRYSTAL GROWTH (CPCG) applications. The principle
Science Museum, Salisbury, MD. PAYLOAD: A primary objective of investigators for this experiment were
 hull prior to sunrise and any mission to rendezvous and dock with
fluorescent glow from the gas after the Russian Space Station Mir.
sunrise. If lighting conditions were During the 9-day flight, the crew
right, the gas would appear as a dull conducted a number of secondary
green cloud. The test was designed to experiments and transferred nearly
pinpoint the location of the breach in 4 tons of supplies and experiment
Spektr’s hull resulting from last equipment between the docked
year’s collision of a Progress re- vehicles. With the completion of
supply ship with the Russian station. STS-91, Precourt has logged more
Two days earlier, a similar release than 932 hours in space.
of gas into Spektr was conducted by
the cosmonauts while Discovery was Pilot: Dominic L. Pudwill Gorie
docked to Mir to test the gas release (Cmdr., USN). Gorie, 41, was born
system and enable the crew members in Lake Charles, LA. He received a
to document any areas of special bachelor of science degree in ocean
interest for the fly around experiment. engineering from the U.S. Naval
Academy, and a master of science
CREW BIOGRAPHIES degree in aviation systems from the
University of Tennessee.
KSC-98PC-0602 Commander: Charles J. Gorie was designated a Naval
STS-91 Mission Specialist Precourt (Col., USAF). Precourt, 41, Aviator, attended the U.S. Naval Test
Franklin Chang-Díaz, Ph.D., was born in Waltham, MA. He Pilot School, and served as a Test
participates in Terminal Countdown received a bachelor of science degree Pilot at the Naval Air Test Center. He
Demonstration Test (TCDT) was assigned to Strike Fighter
activities. The TCDT is a dress
in aeronautical engineering from the
rehearsal for launch. United States Air Force Academy, a Squadron 87 flying the F/A-18
master of science degree in aboard the USS Roosevelt, and
engineering management from participated in Operation Desert
the University of New Orleans, LA, Golden Gate University, and a master Storm. Gorie received orders to U.S.
and the NASA Lewis Research of arts degree in national security Space Command in Colorado Springs
Center, Cleveland, OH. affairs and strategic studies from the for two years before reporting to
United States Naval War College. Strike Fighter Squadron 106 for
SHUTTLE IONOSPHERIC While at the United States Air Force F/A-18 refresher training. He was
MODIFICATION WITH PULSED Academy, he also attended the French enroute to his command tour of Strike
LOCAL EXHAUST (SIMPLEX): Air Force Academy as part of an Fighter Squadron 37 when selected as
Determined the source of very exchange program. an astronaut candidate.
high frequency radar echoes caused Precourt became an astronaut in He became an astronaut in 1994,
by the orbiter and its OMS engine July 1991, and is a veteran of four and with the completion of STS-91
firings. The principal investigator space flights. He served as a mission has accumulated more than 236 hours
used the collected data to examine the specialist on STS-55, was the pilot on of space flight.
effects of orbital kinetic energy on STS-71, and was the spacecraft
ionospheric irregularities, and to commander on STS-84 and STS-91. Mission Specialist: Franklin R.
understand the processes that take Nearly 90 experiments were Chang-Díaz (Ph.D.). Chang-Díaz,
place with the venting of exhaust conducted during STS-55, the 48, was born in San José, Costa Rica,
materials. German-sponsored Spacelab D-2 and received a bachelor of science
mission, to investigate life sciences, degree in mechanical engineering
SPEKTR GAS RELEASE materials sciences, physics, robotics, from the University of Connecticut,
PROCEDURE: astronomy, and the Earth and its and a doctorate in applied plasma
After the undocking of Discovery atmosphere. physics from the Massachusetts
from the Mir Space Station, the STS-71, the first space shuttle Institute of Technology (MIT).
release of a tracer gas comprised of mission to dock with the Russian Chang-Díaz became an astronaut
acetone and biacetyl into the Space Station Mir, also carried a in 1981, and is a veteran of six space
depressurized Spektr module was Spacehab module in the payload bay flights (STS 61-C, STS-34, STS-46,
initiated. This procedure was in which the crew performed various STS-60, STS-75 and STS-91). He has
designed to enable shuttle astronauts life sciences experiments and data logged over 1,269 hours in space.
to document the ionization glow from collections. STS 61-C was a 6-day flight
the gas through any hole in Spektr’s STS-84 was NASA’s sixth shuttle which saw the deploy of the
SATCOM KU satellite, conducted she began training for a 4-month STS-86 was the seventh mission to
experiments in astrophysics, and mission on the Russian Space Station rendezvous and dock with the
operated the materials processing Mir, but in July 1997, NASA decided Russian Space Station Mir.
laboratory MSL-2. The STS-34 crew to replace Lawrence with her backup, Highlights included the exchange of
successfully deployed the Galileo Dr. David Wolf, to enable Wolf to act U.S. crew members Mike Foale and
spacecraft, operated the Shuttle Solar as a backup crew member for planned David Wolf, a space walk by two
Backscatter Ultraviolet Instrument space walks. Because of her crew members, the transfer to Mir of
(SSBUV) to map atmospheric ozone, knowledge and experience with Mir 10,400 pounds of science and
and performed numerous secondary systems and with crew transfer logistics, and the return of experiment
experiments involving radiation logistics for the Mir, she flew with hardware and results to Earth.
measurements, polymer morphology, the crew of STS-86. A veteran of
lightning research, microgravity effects three space flights, she has logged Mission Specialist: Janet Lynn
on plants, and a student experiment on 894 hours in space. Kavandi (Ph.D.). Kavandi, 38, was
ice crystal growth in space. STS-67 was the second flight of born in Springfield, MO, and
STS-46 was an 8-day mission the ASTRO observatory, a unique received a bachelor of science degree
during which crew members complement of three telescopes. in chemistry from Missouri Southern
deployed the European Retrievable During this 16-day mission, the crew State College–Joplin, a master of
Carrier (EURECA) satellite, and conducted observations around the science degree in chemistry from the
conducted the first Tethered Satellite clock to study the far ultraviolet University of Missouri–Rolla, and a
System (TSS) test flight. spectra of faint astronomical objects doctorate in analytical chemistry from
STS-60 was the first flight of the and the polarization of ultraviolet the University of Washington–Seattle.
Wake Shield Facility, the second flight light coming from hot stars and Kavandi worked at Eagle-Picher
of the Space Habitation Module-2, and distant galaxies. Industries in Joplin, MO, and the
the first joint U.S./Russian Space
Shuttle mission on which a Russian
Cosmonaut was a crewmember.
During the 8-day flight, the crew
conducted a wide variety of biological
materials science, Earth observation,
and life science experiments.
STS-75 was a 15-day mission,
which saw the reflight of the Tethered
Satellite System and the third flight
of the United States Microgravity
Payload. The crew also worked
around the clock performing
combustion experiments and research
related to microgravity investigations
used to improve production of
medicines, metal alloys, and
semiconductors.

Mission Specialist: Wendy B.

Lawrence (Cmdr., USN). Lawrence,
38, was born in Jacksonville, FL, and
received a bachelor of science degree
in ocean engineering from the U.S.
Naval Academy; and a master of
science degree in ocean engineering
from the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology and the Woods Hole
Oceanographic Institution.
Lawrence became an astronaut in
STS091-403-019
1992, and flew as the ascent/entry Inflight picture: bottom center, Wendy Lawrence. Others are (counter-clock-
flight engineer and blue shift orbit wise from Lawrence) Andrew Thomas, Charles Precourt, Valery Ryumin,
pilot on STS-67. In September 1996, Janet Kavandi, Dominic Gorie and Franklin Chang-Díaz.
 several papers at technical

STS-91 conferences and in scientific journals.

Kavandi became an astronaut in
1995, and with the completion of
Quick Look STS-91, has accumulated more than
236 hours of space flight.
Launch Date: June 2, 1998
Time: 5:06 p.m. CDT Mission Specialist: Valery
Site: KSC Pad 39A Victorovitch Ryumin (Russian
Cosmonaut). Ryumin, 59, was born
Orbiter: Discovery in the city of Komsomolsk-on-Amur
OV-103—24th flight
in the Russian Far East. He graduated
Orbit/In.: 173 naut. miles from the Kaliningrad Mechanical
51.6 degrees Engineering Technical College with
Mission Duration: 9 days, 19 hrs, the specialty “Cold Working of The STS-91 crew patch depicts
54 mns. Metal.” He also graduated from the the rendezvous of the Space
Landing Date: June 12, 1998 Department of Electronics and Shuttle Discovery with the
Time: 1:00 p.m. CDT Computing Technology of the
Russian Space Station Mir. The
Site: Kennedy Moscow Forestry Engineering
flags of the United States and
Space Center Institute with the specialty
“Spacecraft Control Systems.” Russia are displayed at the top of
Crew: Charlie Precourt (CDR)
Ryumin helped develop and the patch and both countries are
Dom Gorie (PLT)
prepare all orbital stations, beginning visible on the Earth behind the
Franklin Chang-Díaz (PLC)
with Salyut-1. A veteran of four space two spacecraft. The names of the
Wendy Lawrence (MS2)
flights, Ryumin has logged more than American crew members
Janet Kavandi (MS3)
8,924 days in space. surround the insignia on the
Valery Ryumin (MS4) From 1981 to 1989, Ryumin was outer areas, with the name of
Andy Thomas (MS5) flight director for the Salyut-7 Space Cosmonaut Valery Ryumin in
Cargo Bay Orbiter Docking System, Station and the Mir Space Station. Cyrillic at the lower right.
Payloads: Spacehab Module, Since 1992, he has been the Director The Alpha Magnetic spectrom-
Alpha Magnetic of the Russian portion of the Shuttle-
Spectrometer, eter (AMS) is an international
Mir and NASA-Mir programs.
Space Experiment payload that flew in the payload
Module, bay. Two thin golden streams
Get Away Specials Mission Specialist: Andrew S. W.
Thomas (Ph.D.). Thomas, 46, was flowing into the AMS represent
In-Cabin Commercial Protein born in Adelaide, South Australia. He charged elementary particles.
Payloads: Crystal Growth, received a bachelor of engineering The detection of antimatter in
Solid Surface degree in mechanical engineering, space will help scientists better
Combustion
with First Class Honors, from the understand the physics and ori-
University of Adelaide, South gins of the universe.
Procedure: Spektr Gas Release
Australia, and a doctorate in
mechanical engineering from the
University of Adelaide, South
Australia.
Boeing Aerospace Company. During Thomas became an astronaut in 1998, Dr. Thomas launched as part of
her ten years at Boeing, Kavandi 1992, and was the payload the STS-89 crew. Following docking,
supported numerous programs, commander for the STS-77 mission January 25, 1998, marked the official
proposals and red teams in the energy which deployed two satellites, tested start of his expected 4-month stay
storage systems area. Her work on a large inflatable space structure on aboard Space Station Mir. He
pressure indicating paints has resulted orbit, and conducted a variety of returned to Earth on STS-91 with a
in two patents to date. In addition, scientific experiments in a Spacehab combined missions total of more than
Kavandi has published and presented laboratory module. On January 22, 3,615 hours of space flight.

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