Astronauts Akers and Wilcutt relax on the Atlantis flight deck

STS079-354-016 (20 Sept. 1996) --- Astronaut Thomas D. Akers, mission specialist, spends a few moments of his off-duty time aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis in a rare relaxed posture. Akers is on the aft flight deck, looking toward overhead windows (out of frame) through which he could see several of the components of Russia's Mir Space Station, docked for several days to Atlantis. Later, during a post-flight presentation to an assembly of co-workers in Houston, astronaut William F. Readdy, mission commander, recalled this moment as the only one on the STS-79 flight during which he witnessed Akers not busy with transfer chores or Spacehab experiment tasks. Several pieces of camera equipment and a stowed chair used during launch and entry are identifiable among the items on the flight deck.