STS-79 Mission Control Center
Status Report  #4

Tuesday, September 17, 1996,  5 p.m. CDT

Space Shuttle Atlantis' six astronauts awakened just before 5
p.m. this afternoon to continue a full slate of on-board experiments
and continue preparations for the Wednesday night rendezvous with
Russia's Mir space station. The crew was awakened with the song
"Rescue Me' by singer Fontella Bass.  Capcom Kay Hire called the
wakeup music "a message from Shannon," referring to U.S. astronaut
Dr. Shannon Lucid who has spent approximately six months aboard the
space station.

Atlantis will dock with Mir about 10:17 p.m. CDT Wednesday and begin
the process of exchanging Lucid with her replacement, John Blaha.
Atlantis' astronauts spent a busy flight day two in the early hours of
Tuesday, activating the double Spacehab module in the shuttle's
payload bay, packing materials and supplies and filling containers of
water which will be delivered to Mir.  Transfer preparations will
continue in this flight day to move the over 4,000 pounds of supplies
and equipment.

The crew is scheduled to conduct a video tour of the double Spacehab
module about 9:30 p.m. CDT today, time permitting.


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