Space Shuttle Project

This unusual view of the underside of the Space Shuttle Orbiter Atlantis was taken by a fish-eye camera lens from Kennedy Space Center (KSC) Shuttle Landing Facility shortly before landing on May 24, 1997. Atlantis was wrapping up its nine-day mission, which was the sixth docking with the Mir space station. STS-84 Mission Specialist C. Michael Foale replaced astronaut and Mir 23 crew member Jerry M. Linenger, who had been on the Russian space station since January 15. Foale was scheduled to remain on Mir for approximately four months, until replaced by STS-86 crew member Wendy B. Lawrence in September 1997. Besides docking and crew exchange, this mission included the transfer of more than 7,300 pounds of water, logistics and science experiments, and hardware to and from Mir.