STS-84
Report # 01 
Thursday, May 15, 1997, 5 a.m. CDT 
 
5 a.m. CDT Thursday, May 15, 1997

The Space Shuttle Atlantis lifted off precisely on schedule at 3:08
a.m. CDT today after a smooth and uneventful countdown.  The ascent
phase was completely nominal, as were the early phases of on-orbit
operations.  Forty-five minutes after launch, the vehicle's Orbital
Maneuvering System engines were fired to circularize Atlantis' orbit
at 185 statute miles.  Payload bay door opening followed shortly
thereafter.

At the time of launch, the Russian space station, Mir, was
approximately 11,500 miles west of Australia.  It was approximately
one hour after launch that the Russian control center was able to
advise the Mir crew of the successful launch of Atlantis.  Jerry
Linenger, the U.S. astronaut member of the Mir crew, responded to the
news with the exclamation,."That's great!"

After configuring Atlantis for on-orbit operations, the crew will
begin an eight-hour sleep period shortly after 8 a.m. CDT.  Atlantis
will continue its pursuit of Mir throughout today and tomorrow,
culminating with rendezvous and docking with Mir at 9:34 p.m. CDT
Friday.




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