STS-79 Mission Control Center
Status Report  #9

Friday, September 20, 1996, 6 a.m. CST

The first full day of joint Shuttle/Mir operations began in earnest
overnight with the transfer of a biotechnology investigation and
logistical supplies from Atlantis to Mir.

The Biotechnology System, an investigation that will study the
long-term development of cartilage cells in microgravity, was
transported to Mir early this morning.  During his planned four-month
stay on Mir, John Blaha will take weekly samples of the culture which
may provide researchers with information on engineering cartilage
cells for possible use in transplantation.

Blaha and Shannon Lucid are conducting handover discussions concerning
the location and status of hardware and experiments he will use during
his tenure on Mir. They also took time out of their schedules to talk
with Good Morning America's Elizabeth Vargas in a brief interview
today.

Prior to beginning the day's transfer activities, all nine astronauts
and cosmonauts participated in a joint planning session to outline the
day's schedule.  Atlantis Commander Bill Readdy and Mir Commander
Valery Korzun continue to oversee the transfer of water containers and
supplies from the shuttle's Spacehab module into Mir. More than 4,000
pounds of equipment and logistical supplies will be transferred to
Mir, and some 2,000 pounds of experiment samples and equipment will be
moved from Mir to Atlantis for return to Earth.

Atlantis' astronauts were awakened to begin their fifth flight day on
orbit at 8:54 p.m. Thursday and will begin their scheduled sleep
period at 12:54 p.m. today.  The next STS-79 status report will be
issued at 5 p.m. CDT today.

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