KSC-96EC-0829 - STS-78 launch (front view from zoom lens) 


Midmorning proves the perfect time for a Space Shuttle launch as the
thunderstorms that characteristically develop later in the day during
hot Florida summers hold off long enough to allow a flawless liftoff.
The Space Shuttle Columbia surged into space from Launch Pad 39B at
10:49:00 a.m. EDT, June 20, 1996, carrying a crew of seven and the
Life and Microgravity Spacelab (LMS). During a spaceflight expected to
extend to nearly 17 days, the crew will conduct a diverse slate of
experiments divided into a mix of life science and microgravity
investigations; and, in a manner very similar to future international
space station operations, LMS researchers from the United States and
abroad will share resources such as crew time and equipment.

 
                                               06/20/96