Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.
June 2, 1996
 
 6 Up 5 Down 
 Credit:  
NASA
Explanation: This fish-eye view of a dramatic night launch of the Shuttle Atlantis on mission STS-76 was recorded on March 22, 1996. The mission carried 6 astronauts aloft, and returned with 5 -- delivering one crew member, Shannon Lucid, to the Mir Space Station. Lucid is currently onboard the Mir as a cosmonaut guest researcher. NASA Shuttle flights to Mir are part of the Phase 1 program for construction of the International Space Station.
 Authors & editors: 
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry
Bonnell (USRA)
NASA Technical Rep.: 
Jay Norris.
Specific rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA
at
NASA/
GSFC
 &:
Michigan Tech. U.