STS-96 was a Space Shuttle mission flown by Discovery. It launched on May 27, 1999 and returned on June 6, 1999.
The spacearchive.ai STS-96 collection brings together 22 records from the mission, including highlights reels, launch coverage, press conferences, status briefings, and mission commentary.
These records document the mission in the words and images of the people who flew and supported it.
A working snapshot of what the collection holds today. The public catalog shows descriptive metadata; full media and transcripts are available through research access.
All records in this collection
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Launch coverage for STS-96, T minus 54 minutes to liftoff at 06:49:42, highlights the crew ingress procedures and preparations. Notably, the crew members, including Commander Kent Rominger and Pilot Rick Husband, undergo checks for their liquid cooling garments and communication systems. The countdown features a confirmation of no collision avoidance quotients and a weather briefing indicating a slight chance of fog, with the launch window confirmed to achieve an ideal rendezvous with the ISS.
Launch coverage for STS-96 at T minus three hours features the crew's arrival at Kennedy Space Center and their preparations for liftoff at 06:49:42. Notably, Commander Kent Rominger expresses gratitude for the team's efforts in repairing Discovery after a hailstorm, while Mission Specialist Tammy Jernigan highlights her role as the first crew member to enter the International Space Station. The countdown includes a planned hold at T minus 9 minutes and a favorable weather forecast with a 20% chance of not meeting launch criteria.
This press conference for STS-96 features Ron Dittemore, Dave King, and Captain Cliff Stargardt discussing the mission's readiness for launch at T minus 11 hours. Notably, Dittemore highlights this as the first docking mission to the International Space Station, with plans to transfer 3,600 pounds of cargo. King addresses the impact of a recent hailstorm on vehicle processing, while Stargardt provides a favorable weather forecast for launch.
This recording captures the pre-flight status briefing for the STS-96 mission, highlighting the final preparations for the shuttle's launch scheduled at 9:31 AM EDT on May 20th. Key discussions include the ongoing issues with the early communications system, which experienced a failure 10-12 days prior, and the ambitious schedule for the crew, including an EVA to transfer equipment to the International Space Station. The briefing also addresses the status of the service module and its orbital debris protection concerns.
This recording features on-orbit commentary during the STS-96 mission, highlighting the groundbreaking telemedicine experiment connecting multiple clinics, including Cleveland Clinic and the Navajo Nation, to provide real-time patient imaging discussions. The Starshine satellite deployment is also discussed, detailing its educational purpose and the involvement of students from around the world in polishing mirrors for the satellite. Notably, the crew's successful transfer of 2,500 pounds of supplies to the International Space Station is documented.
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This recording captures the landing of Discovery, with main gear touchdown occurring at 9 days, 19 hours, 13 minutes, and 1 second into the mission. The nose gear touchdown followed 15 seconds later, with wheel stop recorded at 9 days, 19 hours, 13 minutes, and 57 seconds. The onboard video provides a cockpit view during this critical phase of the mission.
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Primary references for STS-96. spacearchive.ai is an independent archive and is not affiliated with NASA.
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