KSC-99pp0575

The STS-96 crew gather at the KSC Shuttle Landing Facility after landing aboard the T-38 jet aircraft in the background. From left are Commander Kent V. Rominger, Mission Specialists Valery Ivanovich Tokarev, Tamara E. Jernigan, Daniel T. Barry, Ellen Ochoa and Julie Payette, and Pilot Rick D. Husband. The crew will take part in various launch preparations before the scheduled liftoff on May 27 at 6:48 a.m. EDT. STS-96 is a 10-day logistics and resupply mission for the International Space Station, carrying 5000 pounds of supplies to be stored aboard the station for use by future crews, including laptop computers, cameras, tools, spare parts, and clothing. The mission also includes such payloads as a Russian crane, the Strela; a U.S.-built crane; the Spacehab Oceaneering Space System Box (SHOSS), a logistics items carrier; and STARSHINE, a student-involved experiment. The mission will include a space walk to attach the cranes to the outside of the ISS for use in future construction. After the 10-day mission, landing is expected at the SLF on June 6 about 3:25 a.m. EDT