STS-66
STS-66 further advanced comprehensive effort to collect data about sun's energy output, chemical makeup of the Earth's middle atmosphere, and how these factors affect global ozone levels.Also considered a primary payload was the Cryogenic Infrared Spectrometers and Telescopes for the Atmosphere-Shuttle Pallet Satellite (CRISTA-SPAS), continuing joint NASA-German Space Agency (DARA, now the DLR) series of scientific missions.Millimeter Wave Atmospheric Sounder (MAS), collected nine hours of observations, measuring distribution of water vapor, chlorine monoxide and ozone at altitudes between 12 and 60 miles (20 to 100 kilometres (62 mi)), before computer malfunction halted instrument operations.For retrieval of CRISTA-SPAS, a different approach method to the spacecraft was successfully tested as a prelude to the upcoming U.S. Shuttle/Russian Space Station Mir docking flights.Called R-Bar approach, it is expected to save propellant while reducing risk of contamination to Mir systems from orbiter thruster jet firings.
Space Transportation SystemCOSPAR IDSATCAT no.Space ShuttleAtlantisDonald R. McMonagleCurtis L. Brown, Jr.Ellen OchoaJoseph R. TannerJean-François ClervoyScott E. ParazynskiKennedyLC-39BEdwardsGeocentricLow EarthPerigee altitudeApogee altitudeInclinationPeriodSpace Shuttle programSTS-68STS-63Launch Pad 39BKennedy Space CenterEdwards Air Force BasePositionAntarcticShuttle Pallet SatelliteUpper Atmosphere Research SatelliteatmosphereSTS-125Hubble Space TelescopeList of human spaceflightsList of Space Shuttle missionsOutline of space scienceWayback MachineNational Aeronautics and Space AdministrationSpace Shuttle AtlantisSTS-51-JSTS-61-BSTS-27STS-30STS-34STS-36STS-38STS-37STS-43STS-44STS-45STS-46STS-71STS-74STS-76STS-79STS-81STS-84STS-86STS-101STS-106STS-98STS-104STS-110STS-112STS-115STS-117STS-122STS-129STS-132STS-135Kennedy Space Center Visitor ComplexMerritt Island, FloridaU.S. Space Shuttle missions(crews)Approach and Landing TestsSTS-41-BSTS-41-CSTS-41-DSTS-41-GSTS-51-ASTS-51-CSTS-51-DSTS-51-BSTS-51-GSTS-51-FSTS-51-ISTS-61-ASTS-61-CSTS-51-LSTS-26STS-29STS-28STS-33STS-32STS-31STS-41STS-35STS-39STS-40STS-48STS-42STS-49STS-50STS-47STS-52STS-53STS-54STS-56STS-55STS-57STS-51STS-58STS-61STS-60STS-62STS-59STS-65STS-64STS-67STS-70STS-69STS-73STS-72STS-75STS-77STS-78