STS094-S-005 (1 July 1997)--- Backdropped against the Atlantic Ocean, the Space Shuttle Columbia leaves Launch Pad 39A at 2:02 p.m. (EDT), July 1, 1997, to begin the 16-day Microgravity Science Laboratory (MSL-1) mission. Crew members are astronauts James D. Halsell, Jr., mission commander; Susan L. Still, pilot; Janice E. Voss, payload commander; and Michael A. Gernhardt and Donald A. Thomas, both mission specialists; along with payload specialists Gregory T. Linteris and Roger K. Crouch. This air to ground photo was taken from the rear station of the Shuttle Training Aircraft (STA). The temporarily vacant Pad 39B is also visible at lower left.
