STS-216

Mission Info:

    STS-216 delivered the Main Central Truss segment to the station.  The role of the Truss Assembly on the station is to provide an area to attach experiments to the outside of the station, provide the attachment points for the stations radiator system, and to provide a home for the station arm.  STS-216 was also one of the view missions were the shuttle had no choice but to land at night.  On all missions, there are two windows of opportunity each day for a landing at Cape Canaveral.  On most missions, at least one of the windows is during the day.  However, since the windows are less then 12 hours apart, on missions both windows fall during night time hours (one just after sunset, and one just before sunrise).

STS-216 on the pad before sunset STS-216 Lifting off SRB Separation Shuttle Atlantis on orbit
View of the external tank from Atlantis View of the IOSS from the commanders seat as Atlantis approaches the station Atlantis about to dock STS-216 docked with the IOSS
Preparing to install the MCT Moving the MCT into position MCT installed STS-216 undocking from the station
Atlantis buttoned up, preparing for re-entry De-orbit burn Atlantis on final Atlantis about to land
   
Wheels stop The IOSS at the end of the mission