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News Release For Immediate Release
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Vienna, VA, May 24, 1997 — The third Shuttle mission to carry the SPACEHAB Logistics Double Module successfully concluded this morning at 9:28 a.m. with the safe landing of the Space Shuttle Atlantis at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Space Shuttle Atlantis was launched on May 15, 1997 on another mission to resupply the Russian Mir Space Station and to exchange American Astronauts Jerry Linenger, returning from a four-month stay aboard Mir, and to leave Michael Foale who will continue to conduct scientific research aboard the Space Station. On STS-84, the third of seven planned SPACEHAB missions to the Russian Space Station Mir, the SPACEHAB Logistics Double Module carried primarily items to support the astronauts both during the Shuttle mission, as well as items transferred to Mir to support the cosmonauts and astronauts living there. The 7,500 pounds of cargo included food, clothing, resupply hardware, vital equipment and supplies required to live and work in space for extended periods, and a replacement Oxygen Generator for Mir. The Oxygen Generator, which was installed in the floor of the aft half of the Double Module, was transferred to and installed aboard Mir to replace a dysfunctional unit on the Space Station. SPACEHAB and NASA made last minute alterations to the flight manifest in order to accommodate the replacement generator, which arrived in Florida from Russia in Mid-April. When the decision was made to carry the Oxygen Generator to Mir on STS-84, SPACEHAB purchased special equipment and designed and built a cradle to hold the generator in-flight. The alterations and installation of the generator were successfully completed in about three weeks. A soft stowage system housed most of the logistics items carried in the Double Module. The system is a series of canvas-like bags and allows on average up to 20% more cargo to be carried than if standard lockers were used. The bags use a visual cue of color-coded cards to help facilitate the astronaut's transfer of material to and from Atlantis and Mir. The next flight of the SPACEHAB Logistics Double Module is currently scheduled for September 1997. SPACEHAB, Inc. (NASDAQ: SPAB) is the first company to commercially develop, own, and operate habitable modules that provide space-based laboratory research facilities and logistics resupply services aboard the U.S. Space Shuttle System. |