WIKIARCHIVES.SPACE

The Space Shuttle Atlantis lifts off from Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39B at 4:27:23 a.m. (EST) January 12, 1997 on its way for a docking mission with Russia's Mir Space Station. Onboard were six astronauts and a SPACEHAB Double Module (DM), along with a large supply of food, water, hardware and other materials for Mir. Astronaut Jerry M. Linenger, onboard Atlantis, traded places with John E. Blaha, cosmonaut guest researcher, then onboard Mir since mid September 1996. Along with Linenger, other crewmembers aboard Atlantis were astronauts Michael A. Baker, commander; Brent W. Jett, Jr., pilot; and mission specialists John M. Grunsfeld, Marsha S. Ivins and Peter J. K. (Jeff) Wisoff.