STS86: Shuttle-Mir VII
Growing up, I was a news junkie. Always watched the new, wanted to be a journalist like Walter Cronkite, read Time and Newsweek cover to cover. What I really enjoyed was being the first to know something. The most up-to-date information was important to me, and it still holds true today.
Why am I telling about this. Glad you asked. The Internet has helped increase the amount and rate that we receive information. The space shuttle is an example. One can follow events on a shuttle launch from lift-off to landing, all in real time. I remember it used to be days till we could watch film from space flights, but that is another story. My reason for mentioning this is today’s site not only gets you in on the early planning activities of a shuttle launch, it is a page maintained by the shuttle crew themselves (on their own time, I want to add).
The site is called STS86: Shuttle-Mir VII, and is related to all the events surrounding this flight, scheduled for September 16, 1997. It is potpourri of information about not only the fun stuff of being an astronaut, like getting you picture taken and meeting the public, but the dull and routine things, such as training over and over to make sure all details go without a hitch. The main part of the mission is to deliver another long-duration astronaut to the Mir space station. But there will also be an exchange of over three and one half tons of science and logistical equipment, as well as conduct a five-hour spacewalk. There is so much information here, it is too much to describe. For example, there are instructions on how to get a car pass to view the launch from Kennedy Space Center.
You will spend a lot of time this site ( I spent over on hour the first visit I made). It is so addictive seeing the space program up close and personal. It is especially nice, since the crew themselves are involved with it. Gives it that up close and personal feeling. Bookmark it, and keep coming back, since this site will keep growing. (I wonder if they will update if from space………..)
http://www.phoenix.net/~shuttle/