Imagery

From the Gallery: Three STS-106 mission specialists float in Spacehab's empty core after they have emptied its contents into the International Space Station. The crewmembers are, clockwise from upper left, Dan Burbank, Richard Mastracchio and Russian Cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko.

STS-106 Readies Station for Occupancy
Space Shuttle Atlantis spent nearly 12 days in orbit during September 2000, seven of which were spent docked with the International Space Station.

The international crew of seven included Commander Terry Wilcutt, Pilot Scott Altman and Mission Specialists Richard Mastracchio, Edward Lu, Boris Morukov and Yuri Malenchenko. Cosmonauts Morukov and Malenchenko represented the Russian Space Agency.

While in orbit, the STS-106 crew successfully prepared the International Space Station for the arrival of the first permanent crew. Lu and Malenchenko performed a space walk to connect power, data and communications cables to the newly arrived Zvezda Service Module and the station.

After undocking, the crew photo-documented the station's exterior before departing.

Crew Works Five Days Inside Station
The STS-106 crew spent five days, 9 hours and 21 minutes inside the International Space Station. The seven crewmembers completed a long checklist aimed at making the station a home for its first residents, who would arrive about five weeks later to stay for more than four months.

The STS-106 crewmembers -- acting as plumbers, movers, installers and electricians -- installed batteries, power converters, a toilet and a treadmill on the outpost. They also delivered more than 2,993 kilograms (6,600 pounds) of supplies. Atlantis' thrusters were fired four times to boost the station's altitude by 22.5 kilometers, or 14 miles.

After undocking, Pilot Scott Altman moved Atlantis to a distance of about 137 meters (450 feet) and flew it in a precise two-loop circle around the station as the rest of the crew photo-documented its exterior.