WIKIARCHIVES.SPACE

STS-84 Mission Specialist C. Michael Foale laughs during a rare moment of relaxation just a few hours before the scheduled launch. Foale is donning his launch and entry suit in the Operations and Checkout Building. This will be Foales fourth space flight. Foale and six other crew members will depart shortly for Launch Pad 39A, where the Space Shuttle Atlantis awaits liftoff on a mission to dock with the Russian Space Station Mir. Foale will transfer to Mir for an approximate four- month stay, replacing U.S. astronaut and Mir 23 crew member Jerry M. Linenger, who has been on the Russian space station since Jan. 15. Linenger will return to Earth on Atlantis.