Space Shuttle Atlantis Launches
September 16, 1996

Space Shuttle Atlantis launched at 0854 UTC Monday morning. Aboard
are six astronauts, including Jay Apt, N5QWL, Carl Walz, KC5TIE, and
John Blaha, KC5TZQ, who will spend 120 days as a resident on the
Space Station Mir. John will replace Shannon Lucid, who has been
living on Mir for the last six months. The shuttle will dock with the
station on September 19 at 0317 UTC.

The Amateur Radio equipment supporting SAREX will be setup early in
the flight. The crew have three prearranged contacts with schools.
These contacts will occur after the shuttle has docked with Mir.

Amateurs should keep posted to W1AW and AMSAT SAREX bulletins for
Keplerian elements and information about possible random contact
opportunities. SAREX operating frequencies and additional information
can be found on the ARRL SAREX Web page, http://www.arrl.org/sarex/

Posted by:
American Radio Relay League
Educational Activities Department
225 Main Street  Newington CT 06111-1494  USA
Telephone: (860) 594-0301  FAX: (860) 594-0259  
Internet: sarex@arrl.org  ARRL BBS: (860) 594-0306
CompuServe: 70007,3373  Prodigy: PTYS02A  America Online: HQARRL1
World Wide Web: http://www.arrl.org/

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