STS-96 facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
STS-96

Jernigan outside Unity, during the mission's only EVA
Mission type	ISS assembly ISS logistics
Operator	NASA
Mission duration	9 days, 19 hours, 13 minutes, 57 seconds
Distance travelled	6,000,000 kilometres (3,700,000 mi)
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft	Space Shuttle Discovery
Launch mass	118,857 kilograms (262,035 lb)
Landing mass	100,230 kilograms (220,980 lb)
Payload mass	9,097 kilograms (20,056 lb)
Crew
Crew size	7
Members	Kent V. Rominger Rick D. Husband Daniel T. Barry Ellen Ochoa Tamara E. Jernigan Julie Payette Valeri I. Tokarev
Start of mission
Launch date	27 May 1999, 10:49:42 (1999-05-27UTC10:49:42Z) UTC
Launch site	Kennedy LC-39B
End of mission
Landing date	6 June 1999, 06:02:43 (1999-06-06UTC06:02:44Z) UTC
Landing site	Kennedy SLF Runway 15
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric
Regime	Low Earth
Perigee	326 kilometres (203 mi)
Apogee	340 kilometres (210 mi)
Inclination	51.6 degrees
Period	91.2 min
Docking with ISS
Docking port	PMA-2 (Unity forward)
Docking date	29 May 1999, 04:23 UTC
Undocking date	3 June 1999, 22:39 UTC
Time docked	5 days, 18 hours, 15 minutes
Left to right - Front row: Rominger, Ochoa, Husband; Back row: Barry, Payette, Tokarev, Jernigan Space Shuttle program ← STS-88 STS-93 →

STS-96 was a Space Shuttle mission to the International Space Station (ISS). It was the first time a Space Shuttle docked with the ISS. The mission used the Space Shuttle Discovery. It carried a special module called Spacehab, which was full of supplies for the space station.

The shuttle launched from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on May 27, 1999. It returned to Kennedy on June 6, 1999.

Meet the Astronauts: The STS-96 Crew

Position	Astronaut
Commander	Kent V. Rominger Fourth spaceflight
Pilot	Rick D. Husband First spaceflight
Mission Specialist 1	Daniel T. Barry Second spaceflight
Mission Specialist 2	Ellen Ochoa Third spaceflight
Mission Specialist 3	Tamara E. Jernigan Fifth and last spaceflight
Mission Specialist 4	Julie Payette, CSA First spaceflight
Mission Specialist 5	Valeri I. Tokarev, RKA First spaceflight

Space Walk: Working Outside the Station

During the mission, two astronauts, Tamara E. Jernigan and Daniel T. Barry, went on a spacewalk. This was a very important part of their work.

• Astronauts: Jernigan and Barry
• Start of Spacewalk: May 30, 1999 – 02:56 UTC
• End of Spacewalk: May 30, 1999 – 10:51 UTC
• Time Spent Outside: 7 hours, 55 minutes

What STS-96 Did: Mission Highlights

• 

  This picture shows what the International Space Station (ISS) looked like after the STS-96 mission.

• 

  The Integrated Cargo Carrier (ICC) carried a Russian crane called "STRELA" for the ISS.

STS-96 was all about bringing supplies and equipment to the International Space Station. It was a "logistics and resupply" mission. The Space Shuttle Discovery carried a large module called the Spacehab Double Module (DM). This module was packed with cargo for the station.

The shuttle also brought an Integrated Cargo Carrier (ICC). This carrier held parts for a Russian cargo crane called STRELA. This crane was later attached to the outside of the Russian part of the station. The ICC also carried other tools, including a U.S.-built crane.

Other important items on STS-96 included:

• The Student Tracked Atmospheric Research Satellite for Heuristic International Networking Equipment (STARSHINE).
• The Shuttle Vibration Forces Experiment (SVF).
• The Orbiter Integrated Vehicle Health Monitoring – HEDS Technology Demonstration (IVHM HTD).

STARSHINE Satellite: A Bright Idea

The STARSHINE satellite was a special project. It was a hollow sphere, about 19 inches (483 mm) wide. It had 1,000 small, shiny mirrors on its surface. The idea was for students around the world to track this satellite as it orbited Earth. By watching its path, they could learn about Earth's atmosphere. The satellite was released from the shuttle.

Space Shuttle Discovery launches on STS-96 from Kennedy Space Center, May 27, 1999.

Shuttle Vibration Forces Experiment

The Shuttle Vibration Forces (SVF) Experiment measured how much things vibrated during launch and flight. This helped engineers understand the forces on equipment inside the shuttle. It was the second time this experiment flew into space.

Monitoring the Shuttle's Health

The Orbiter Integrated Vehicle Health Monitoring (IVHM HTD) experiment was about making the Space Shuttle safer. It tested new ways to check the shuttle's systems while it was flying. The goal was to find problems faster and make repairs easier on the ground. This helped improve the overall safety of the vehicle.

A Game in Space

Did you know a copy of the video game StarCraft by Blizzard Entertainment also flew aboard STS-96? It's now kept at Blizzard's headquarters!

Wake-up Calls: Music from Home

NASA has a fun tradition of playing music to astronauts to wake them up. This started during the Gemini program. The songs are often chosen by the astronauts' families. They usually have a special meaning to one of the crew members or relate to their daily tasks in space.

Images for kids

• 

  Jernigan outside Unity, during the mission's only EVA

• 

  Left to right - Front row: Rominger, Ochoa, Husband; Back row: Barry, Payette, Tokarev, Jernigan

See also

In Spanish: STS-96 para niños