STS079-357-009 (16-26 Sept. 1996) --- Astronaut John E. Blaha, now a full-fledged crewmember of Mir-22, takes notes in the Priroda Module on one of the many experiments stored there. Shortly after assuming his new duties, Blaha's attention was directed toward a bio-reactor experiment, which he quickly repaired.

STS79-E-5032 (18 September 1996) --- Astronaut John E. Blaha checks on additional supplies to be transferred to Russia's Mir Space Station from the Space Shuttle Atlantis, on Flight Day 3.

STS79-E-5030 (18 September 1996) --- Astronaut John E. Blaha checks on gyrodyne device, one part of gear to be transferred to Russia's Mir Space Station from the Space Shuttle Atlantis, on Flight Day 3.

NM22-416-017 (20 Sept. 1996) --- One of the first priorities of astronaut John E. Blaha, mission specialist for STS-79 and soon to be cosmonaut guest researcher for Mir-22, was to get his Sokol space suit pressure-checked for the move aboard Russia’s Mir Space Station. On flight day four, Blaha and his STS-79 crew mates aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis docked with Mir. Here, seen soon after hatch opening, Blaha prepares for the needed suit tests.

STS79-E-5027 (18 September 1996) --- Astronaut John E. Blaha, near Spacehab lockers onboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis, stays busy with final preparations for joining cosmonauts for crew mates following tomorrow's docking of the Atlantis and Russia's Mir Space Station, on Flight Day 3.

S96-10557 (May 1996) --- The original Mir-22 crew assigned to duty aboard Russia's Mir Space Station poses with the STS-81 crew. The cosmonauts, flanking astronaut Marsha S. Ivins on the top row, are Gennadiy M. Manakov (left) mission commander; and Pavel V. Vinogradov, flight engineer. After this photo was taken, a shift of Russian crew assignments occurred and Manakov and Vinogradov were replaced with Valeri G. Korzun and Aleksandr Y. Kaleri. The astronauts are, front row (left to right): Jerry M. Linenger, Brent W. Jett, Jr., and John E. Blaha. Second row, left to right, John W. Grunsfeld, Michael A. Baker and Peter J. K. (Jeff) Wisoff. All the STS-81 crewmembers except Blaha are scheduled to be launched in December 1996 aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis and those six will be joined by Mir-22 cosmonaut researcher Blaha when the two spacecraft are joined in Earth-orbit. Blaha will have been launched into Earth-orbit to connect with Russia's Mir Space Station on an earlier mission - STS-79 - of the space shuttle Atlantis, scheduled for launch in the summer of 1996. Linenger will remain onboard Mir for a tour of duty as a cosmonaut researcher.

S88-45293 (November 1988) --- Astronaut John E. Blaha, pilot.

STS79-E-5131 (20 September 1996) --- Astronauts Shannon W. Lucid and John E. Blaha, sharing a third flight together in Earth-orbit (twice on the Space Shuttle Atlantis, once on the Space Shuttle Columbia), hold a brief-debrief session about their soon-to-be exchanged roles, during Flight Day 5. Blaha becomes a Mir-22 cosmonaut guest researcher for several months and Lucid ends a period of over six months aboard Mir as a cosmonaut guest researcher, having spent time with two Mir crews.

On November 22, 1989, at 7:23:30pm (EST), 5 astronauts were launched into space aboard the Space Shuttle Orbiter Discovery for the 5th Department of Defense mission, STS-33. Photographed from left to right are Kathryn C. Thornton, mission specialist 3; Manley L. (Sonny) Carter, mission specialist 2; Frederick D. Gregory, commander; John E. Blaha, pilot; and F. Story Musgrave, mission specialist 1.

Five astronauts composed the STS-29 crew. Standing (left ot right) are James P. Bagian, mission specialist 1; Robert C. Springer, mission specialist 3; and James F. (Jim) Buchli, mission specialist 2. Seated (left to right) are John E. Blaha, pilot, and Michael L. Coats, commander. STS-29 launched aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery on March 13, 1989 at 9:57 am (EST). The primary payload was the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite- 4 (TDRS-4).

STS79-E-5059 (19 September 1996) --- Astronaut John E. Blaha, soon to join the Mir-22 crew aboard Russia's Mir Space Station as a cosmonaut guest researcher, looks through the Space Shuttle Atlantis' aft flight deck windows toward his new temporary home, on Flight Day 4.

STS79-E-5145 (20 September 1996) --- Astronaut and cosmonaut guest researcher Shannon W. Lucid exercises on a treadmill while astronaut, soon-to-be cosmonaut guest researcher, John E. Blaha studies the daily planner, during Flight Day 5.

STS79-E-5095 (19 September 1996) --- Soon after Russia's Mir Space Station and the Space Shuttle Atlantis were docked in Earth-orbit, hatchways were quickly and safely opened, making way for special reunions like the one between astronaut and cosmonaut guest researcher Shannon W. Lucid (still attired in her Mir-22 garment) and astronaut John E. Blaha near the tunnel connection to the Docking Module (DM) on Mir, during Flight Day 4. After spending 180 days aboard Mir, Lucid is with the astronaut who will replace her as cosmonaut guest researcher. The two have flown together on two previous Space Shuttle missions.

STS029-01-001 (16 Marach 1989) --- Astronaut John E. Blaha, STS-29 pilot, checks an incubator on the mid deck of Earth-orbiting Discovery during Flight Day 4 activity. The incubator is part of a student involvement program experiment titled, "Chicken Embryo Development in Space." The student experimenter is John C. Vellinger. The experiment's sponsor is Kentucky Fried Chicken. This photographic frame was among NASA's third STS-29 photo release. Monday, March 20, 1989. Crewmembers were Astronauts Michael L. Coats, John E. Blaha, James F. Buchli, Robert C. Springer and James P. Bagian.

The STS-58 crew portrait includes astronauts (seated left to right) David A. Wolf, Shannon W. Lucid, and Rhea Seddon, all mission specialists; and Richard A. Searfoss, pilot. Standing in the rear, left to right, are John E. Blaha, commander; William S. McArthur, Jr., mission specialist; and Martin J. Fettmen, payload specialist. Launched aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia on October 18, 1993 at 10:53:10 a.m. (EDT), STS-58 served as the second dedicated Spacelab Life Sciences (SLS-2) mission.

STS029-11-027 (13-18 March 1989) --- Astronaut John E. Blaha holds up a picture of the crewmembers' wives from the pilot's station on Discovery's flight deck. The photo, unlike the numbers of printed information and photos which were sent up by the text and graphics system (TAGS), was found by crewmembers upon their ingressing the spacecraft at Kennedy Space Center on launch day.

STS058-25-004 (29 Oct. 1993) --- On the forward flight deck of the Earth-orbiting Space Shuttle Columbia, astronauts John E. Blaha and Shannon W. Lucid show their glee at a milestone achieved a while earlier. The mission commander had earlier announced that Lucid's just achieved 752nd hour in space marked a space shuttle record for time spent on a mission.

STS079-S-092 (16-26 Sept. 1996) --- Astronauts Shannon W. Lucid and John E. Blaha work at a microgravity glove box on the Priroda Module aboard Russia's Mir Space Station complex. Blaha, who flew into Earth-orbit with the STS-79 crew, and Lucid are the first participants in a series of ongoing exchanges of NASA astronauts serving time as cosmonaut guest researchers onboard Mir. Lucid went on to spend a total of 188 days in space before returning to Earth with the STS-79 crew. During the STS-79 mission, the crew used an IMAX camera to document activities aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis and the various Mir modules, with the cooperation of the Russian Space Agency (RSA). A hand-held version of the 65mm camera system accompanied the STS-79 crew into space in Atlantis' crew cabin. NASA has flown IMAX camera systems on many Shuttle missions, including a special cargo bay camera's coverage of other recent Shuttle-Mir rendezvous and/or docking missions.

STS29-05-024 (16 March 1989) --- Astronaut John E. Blaha, STS-29 pilot, has his blood flow checked by astronaut James P. Bagian, mission specialist and a physician. The two are on the mid deck of the Earth-orbiting Space Shuttle Discovery.

The crew assigned to the STS-79 mission included (seated front left to right) Jerome (Jay) Apt, mission specialist; Terrence W. Wilcutt, pilot; William F. Readdy, commander; Thomas D. Akers, and Carl E. Walz, both mission specialists. On the back row (left to right) are mission specialists Shannon W. Lucid, and John E. Blaha. Launched aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis on September 16, 1996 at 4:54:49 am (EDT), the STS-79 mission marked the fourth U.S. Space Shuttle-Russian Space Station Mir docking, the second flight of the SPACEHAB module in support of Shuttle-Mir activities and the first flight of the SPACEHAB Double Module Configuration.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - STS-79 Mission Specialist John E. Blaha arrives at KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility with five fellow astronauts, ready to participate in the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test (TCDT). The TCDT is a dress rehearsal for launch for the flight crew and launch team. Over the next several days, the astronauts will take part in training exercises at the launch pad that will culminate in a simulated launch countdown. The Space Shuttle Atlantis is being prepared for liftoff around Sept. 12 on STS-79, the fourth docking between the U.S. Shuttle and Russian Space Station Mir. During the approximately nine-day flight, Blaha will change places with fellow spaceflight veteran Shannon Lucid, who is wrapping up a record-setting stay on Mir. Blaha will remain aboard the Station for about four months, returning to Earth in January 1997 withthe crew of Shuttle Mission STS-81.

STS029-04-032 (13-18 March 1989) --- This scene was a common one during the five-day flight of STS-29. Astronaut John E. Blaha, STS-29 pilot, aims the IMAX camera at Earth through one of Discovery's overhead windows. The scene was recorded with a 35mm camera. The photo was part of the first group of onboard photography from this flight released by NASA on Mar. 19, 1989.

STS079-S-062 (16-26 Sept. 1996) --- Astronaut John E. Blaha, here serving as a cosmonaut guest researcher onboard Russia's Mir Space Station, is pictured on the Spektr Module during his "move" from the Space Shuttle Atlantis. During the STS-79 mission, the crew used an IMAX camera to document activities aboard the space shuttle Atlantis and the various Mir modules. A hand-held version of the 65mm camera system accompanied the STS-79 crew into space in Atlantis' crew cabin. NASA has flown IMAX camera systems on many shuttle missions, including a special cargo bay camera's coverage of other recent Shuttle-Mir rendezvous and/or docking missions.

U. S. astronaut John E. Blaha and his family are all smiles as they embrace in the crew quarters at KSC after he answered questions about his four-month stay aboard the Russian Mir space station. Blaha’s wife, Brenda, is on the left and his daughter, Carolyn, is on the right. Blaha returned to Earth earlier today aboard the Space Shuttle orbiter Atlantis when it touched down at 9:22:44 a.m. EST Jan. 22 on Runway 33 of KSC’s Shuttle Landing Facility at the conclusion of the STS-81 mission. Blaha and the other five returning STS-81 crew members are spending the night here in the Operations and Checkout Building before returning to Johnson Space Center in Houston tomorrow morning. Blaha will undergo a two-week series of medical tests to help determine the physiological effects of his long-duration mission

Pilot John E. Blaha balances and points IMAX motion picture camera out aft flight deck overhead window to film Earth's surface below. Blaha is surrounded by onorbit station control panels in foreground, payload station in background, and forward overhead panels above. Handbook titled "TiFFEN Formula 712" and checklists are velcroed to onorbit station panels. An open atlas freefloats just below Blaha's right elbow.

Returning NASA astronaut and former Mir 22 crew member John E. Blaha (left), addresses the news media at the Skid Strip at Cape Canaveral Air Station as he and fellow STS-81 crew members prepare to depart for Johnson Space Center Jan. 23. The crew arrived at KSC aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis Jan. 22 to conclude the fifth Shuttle-Mir docking mission and return Blaha to Earth after four months in space. Behind Blaha is Mission Commander Michael A. Baker

S93-45366 (29 Sept 1993) --- Astronaut John E. Blaha, STS-58 mission commander, sits in a training version of the rotating chair test device. Sensors are attached to Blaha's head and face to record responses to the rotation. Blaha was participating with five other NASA astronauts and a payload specialist for data collection and training in preparation for the two week Spacelab Life Sciences (SLS-2) mission.

S86-29122 (March 1986) --- Astronauts John E. Blaha, left, and Robert C. Springer participate in a rehearsal for their assigned flight in the crew compartment trainer at the Johnson Space Center (JSC). Blaha is pilot and Springer, one of three mission specialists for the mission. The two will mark their first spaceflights on the next mission.

U. S. astronaut John E. Blaha and his wife, Brenda, hold hands in the crew quarters at KSC after he answered questions about his four-month stay aboard the Russian Mir space station. Blaha returned to Earth earlier today aboard the Space Shuttle orbiter Atlantis when it touched down at 9:22:44 a.m. EST Jan. 22 on Runway 33 of KSC’s Shuttle Landing Facility at the conclusion of the STS-81 mission. Blaha and the other five returning STS-81 crew members are spending the night here in the Operations and Checkout Building before returning to Johnson Space Center in Houston tomorrow morning. Blaha will undergo a two-week series of medical tests to help determine the physiological effects of his long-duration mission

U. S. astronaut John E. Blaha poses with his wife, Brenda (left), and daughter, Carolyn (right), in the crew quarters at KSC after answering questions about his four-month stay aboard the Russian Mir space station. Blaha returned to Earth earlier today aboard the Space Shuttle orbiter Atlantis when it touched down at 9:22:44 a.m. EST Jan. 22 on Runway 33 of KSC’s Shuttle Landing Facility at the conclusion of the STS-81 mission. Blaha and the other five returning STS-81 crew members are spending the night here in the Operations and Checkout Building before returning to Johnson Space Center in Houston tomorrow morning. Blaha will undergo a two-week series of medical tests to help determine the physiological effects of his long-duration mission

S95-16674 (14 July 1995) --- On the left is the Mir-21 crew consisting of cosmonaut Yuriy V. Usachov (standing), flight engineer; Yuriy I. Onufriyenko (seated), commander; and Shannon W. Lucid, cosmonaut guest researcher. On the right side is the Mir-23 crew consisting of John E. Blaha (standing), cosmonaut guest researcher; Vasili V. Tsibliyev (seated), commander; and Aleksandr I. Lazutkin, flight engineer. NASA astronauts Lucid and Blaha each will go into space to board Russia's Mir Space Station for lengthy research on their respective missions. Lucid will board the Mir during the STS-76 mission. Blaha will replace Lucid onboard the Mir during the STS-79 mission.

STS043-03-009 (5 Aug 1991) ---- Astronaut John E. Blaha is pictured executing development test objective (DTO) 1208, Space Station Cursor Control Device Evaluation II and advanced applications. The purpose of the Cursor Control Device Experiment is to evaluate human performance under space flight conditions of cursor control devices which are similar to the devices under consideration for use onboard Space Station computers. Here, the mission commander uses a thumbball/handgrip control device. Each crewmember evaluated the different types of cursor control devices during the nine-day STS-43 mission. Other methods of cursor control evaluated were the built-in trackball, a side mounted trackball with restraints and an optical pad with mouse.

Returning NASA astronaut and former Mir 22 crew member John E. Blaha (left), puts his arm around his wife, Brenda, as they prepare to depart with the STS-81 crew for Johnson Space Center Jan. 23 from the Skid Strip at Cape Canaveral Air Station. NASA’s Patrick McGinnis is on the right. The STS-81 crew arrived at KSC aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis Jan. 22 to conclude the fifth ShuttleMir docking mission and return Blaha to Earth after four months in space

Returning NASA astronaut and former Mir 22 crew member John E. Blaha (left), gestures towards his fellow STS-81 crew members during a press conference prior to their departure for Johnson Space Center Jan. 23 from the Skid Strip at Cape Canaveral Air Station. The crew arrived at KSC aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis Jan. 22 to conclude the fifth Shuttle-Mir docking mission and return Blaha to Earth after four months in space. Behind Blaha from the left are Mission Commander Michael A. Baker; Pilot Brent W. Jett, and Mission Specialists John M. Grunsfeld, Peter J. K. "Jeff" Wisoff and Marsha S. Ivins

S95-21468 (August 1995) --- Portrait of astronaut John E. Blaha, who will go into space in 1996 to spend time aboard Russia's Mir Space Station as a cosmonaut researcher

STS81-E-05107 (13 Jan. 1997) --- Astronaut John M. Grunsfeld, mission specialist, begins to activate a biorack glovebox aboard the Spacehab Double Module (DM) early on Day 2 of the mission. Grunsfeld is joined by five other NASA astronauts for the almost ten-day mission. The crew is scheduled to dock with Russia's Mir Space Station and pick up John E. Blaha, NASA astronaut who has been serving as a cosmonaut guest researcher since September 1996. Jerry M. Linenger (out of frame) will replace Blaha onboard Mir.

STS081-E-5424 (15 Jan. 1997) --- Left to right, cosmonaut Valeri G. Korzun, Mir-22 mission commander; and astronauts Peter J. K. (Jeff) Wisoff (holding 70mm camera) and John E. Blaha are pictured soon after hatch opening. Blaha had just joined the NASA crew, having served as a cosmonaut guest researcher aboard Russia's Mir Space Station since mid September 1996. The photograph was taken with an Electronic Still Camera (ESC), which was used throughout the 10-day mission to downlink current photographs of the crews'joint ativities.

STS081-E-5101 (12 Jan. 1997) --- Astronaut Jerry M. Linenger, mission specialist, works out on a bicycle ergometer device on the Space Shuttle Atlantis' flight deck as he readies for a long-duration stay in Earth-orbit. In mid-week, Linenger and his crew mates are scheduled to dock with Russia's Mir Space Station and pick up John E. Blaha, NASA astronaut who has been serving as a cosmonaut guest researcher since September 1996. Linenger will replace Blaha onboard Mir and the transfer will mark the second such direct exchange of cosmonaut guest researchers, though Linenger will be the fourth United States astronaut to spend a lengthy stay on Mir.

STS081-E-05504 (16 Jan. 1997) --- Astronaut John E. Blaha re-unites with the familiar surroundings of the Space Shuttle Atlantis' aft flight deck, which he has not seen since September 1996, when he went aboard the Russian Mir Space Station complex. After the January 15, 1997 docking of Mir and Atlantis, Blaha assumed the status of a STS-81 mission specialist. Here, he checks small items against a check list. The photograph was recorded with an Electronic Still Camera (ESC) and later was downlinked to flight controllers in Houston, Texas.

Members of the STS-81 crew prepare to depart for Johnson Space Center Jan. 23 from the Skid Strip at Cape Canaveral Air Station. The crew arrived at KSC aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis Jan. 22 to conclude the fifth Shuttle-Mir docking mission and return U. S. astronaut John E. Blaha to Earth after four months in space as member of the Mir 22 crew. On the left is Mission Specialist John M. Grunsfeld, with his daughter, Sarah, on his back. Also pictured are Mission Commander Michael A. Baker (center); Pilot Brent W. Jett (second from right); and Blaha

S88-52476 (8 Nov 1988) --- John E. Blaha, STS-29 pilot, gets in some training on the operation of one of the payloads for his upcoming spaceflight aboard Discovery. The payload is an Imax motion-picture camera, hardware of which is out of frame here. Blaha uses a light meter to get a reading before operating the camera in a practice run. The crew met with Imax personnel on the JSC grounds to practice using the motion-picture camera, making its first post-Challenger trip into space. Phyllis Wilson with Imax is at far right. The payload flew on a number of earlier STS flights.

Mir 21 crew portraits. Group portrait of Mir 21 prime and backup crews with American and Russian flags and shuttle/Mir model, top from left: Yuri Usachev, Shannon Lucid, John Blaha and Alexandr Lazutkin, bottom from left: Yuri Onufrienko and Vasiliy Tsibliev (16674). Backup crew portrait: Lazutkin, Blaha and Tsibliev (16675). Group portrait of Mir 21 prime and backup crews with Donald Puddy, special assistant in Russian Project Office (16676). Prime crew portrait: Lucid, Usachev and Onufrienko (16677).

STS029-04-028 (March 1989) --- One of a series of photographs released in conjunction with the STS-29 post-flight press conference on March 28, 1989 at the Johnson Space Center (JSC), Houston, Texas. Onboard Discovery for the five-day mission were Astronauts Michael L. Coats, John E. Blaha, James F. Buchli, James P. Bagian and Robert C. Springer. STS029-04-028 --- A 35mm frame of Blaha using the overhead window on Discovery's aft flight deck to capture Earth scenes with the IMAX motion picture camera.

S95-16678 (September 1995) --- NASA astronauts Shannon W. Lucid and John E. Blaha next year will follow the lead of astronaut Norman E. Thagard's 1995 feat of extended stay aboard Russia's Mir Space Station. Lucid is to accompany the STS-76 crew in March and spend a little over four months aboard Mir before returning to Earth with the STS-79 crew. Blaha will go into space on the scheduled August mission of STS-79 and after four months aboard Mir will return to Earth with the STS-81 crew.

STS081-E-05432 (15 Jan. 1997) --- Left to right, astronaut John E. Blaha, his cosmonaut guest researcher replacement Jerry M. Linenger and Michael A. Baker, mission commander, shortly after docking and hatch opening. Blaha had just joined the NASA crew, having served as a cosmonaut guest researcher aboard Russia's Mir Space Station since mid September 1996. The photograph was taken with an Electronic Still Camera (ESC), which was used throughout the 10-day mission to downlink current photographs of the crews' joint activities.

STS079-350-028 (16-26 Sept. 1996) --- Aboard Russian Mir Space Station's Spektr Module, astronaut John E. Blaha, now a cosmonaut guest researcher, visits with Valeri G. Korzun, his mission commander for Mir-22. This photograph is one of fifteen 35mm frames (along with four 70mm frames) of still photography documenting the activities of NASA's STS-79 mission, which began with a Sept. 16, 1996, liftoff from Launch Pad 39A the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) and ended with a landing at KSC on September 26, 1996. Onboard for the launch were astronauts William F. Readdy, commander; Terrence W. Wilcutt, pilot; Blaha, Jerome (Jay) Apt, Thomas D. Akers and Carl E. Walz, all mission specialists. On flight day 4, the crew docked with Mir. Shannon W. Lucid, who had spent six months aboard Mir, switched cosmonaut guest researcher roles with Blaha. The latter joined fellow Mir-22 crewmembers Korzun, and Aleksandr Y. Kaleri, flight engineer.

STS081-S-010 (22 Jan. 1997) --- A drag chute is deployed as the Space Shuttle Atlantis rolls toward a wheels stopped mode on Runway 33 at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) to conclude the fifth Shuttle-Mir docking mission. Coming to a halt at 9:22:44 a.m. (EST), January 22, the mission also accomplished the return of astronaut John E. Blaha, cosmonaut guest researcher, who had been aboard Russia's Mir Space Station complex since mid September 1996. Blaha was replaced by Jerry M. Linenger during the five days of joint activities of the Mir-22 and STS-81 crew members while Atlantis and Mir were docked in Earth-orbit. At main gear touchdown, the mission's duration was 10 days, 4 hours and 55 minutes. This was the 34th space shuttle landing at KSC. The crew aboard at landing included astronauts Michael A. Baker, commander; Brent W. Jett, Jr., pilot; Blaha; and mission specialists Marsha S. Ivins, Peter J. K. (Jeff) Wisoff and John M. Grunsfeld.

STS081-S-008 (22 Jan. 1997) --- The Space Shuttle Atlantis touches down on Runway 33 at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) to conclude the fifth Shuttle-Mir docking mission. Coming to a halt at 9:22:44 a.m. (EST), January 22, the mission also accomplished the return of astronaut John E. Blaha, cosmonaut guest researcher, who had been aboard Russia's Mir Space Station complex since mid September 1996. Blaha was replaced by Jerry M. Linenger during the five days of joint activities of the Mir-22 and STS-81 crewmembers while Atlantis and Mir were docked in Earth-orbit. At main gear touchdown, the mission's duration was 10 days, 4 hours and 55 minutes. This was the 34th space shuttle landing at KSC. The crew aboard at landing included astronauts Michael A. Baker, commander; Brent W. Jett, Jr., pilot; Blaha; and mission specialists Marsha S. Ivins, Peter J. K. (Jeff) Wisoff and John M. Grunsfeld.

STS079-349-022 (16-26 Sept. 1996) --- The traditional inflight crew portrait, taken in Russia's Mir Space Station base block. Front row, left to right, Aleksandr Y. Kaleri, Jerome (Jay) Apt, John E. Blaha, William F. Readdy and Shannon W. Lucid. Back row, left to right, Thomas D. Akers, Carl E. Walz, Valeri G. Korzun and Terrence W. Wilcutt. This photograph is one of fifteen 35mm frames (along with four 70mm frames) of still photography documenting the activities of NASA's STS-79 mission, which began with a September 16, 1996, liftoff from Launch Pad 39A the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) and ended with a landing at KSC on September 26, 1996. Onboard for the launch were astronauts Readdy, commander; Wilcutt, pilot; Blaha, Apt, Akers and Walz, all mission specialists. On flight day 4, the crew docked with the Mir Space Station. Lucid, who had spent six months aboard Mir, switched cosmonaut guest researcher roles with Blaha. The latter joined fellow Mir-22 crewmembers Korzun, commander, and Kaleri, flight engineer.

STS79-E-5240 (21 September 1996) --- Cosmonaut Valeri G. Korzun (left), Mir-22 commander, and astronaut John E. Blaha, cosmonaut guest researcher, share another mealtime on the Space Shuttle Atlantis' mid deck, during Flight Day 6.

STS79-E-5379 (24 September 1996) --- Astronaut Terrence W. Wilcutt, pilot, watches the Russia's Mir Space Station, with fellow astronaut John E. Blaha, cosmonaut guest researcher onboard, gradually getting further and further away from the Space Shuttle Atlantis, during Flight Day 9.

STS058-03-020 (18 Oct.-1 Nov. 1993) --- In the Spacelab onboard the space shuttle Columbia, STS-58 Commander John Blaha is positioned at the Rotating Dome vestibular experiment as Payload Commander Rhea Seddon sets up the experiment. Photo credit: NASA

STS081-E-05100 (12 Jan. 1997) --- Astronaut Peter J. K. (Jeff) Wisoff, mission specialist, carries a stowage drawer from the middeck of the Space Shuttle Atlantis' crew cabin through a connective tunnel into the Spacehab Double Module (DM). In a few days, Wisoff and his five crew mates are scheduled to dock with Russia's Mir Space Station and pick up John E. Blaha, NASA astronaut who has been serving as a cosmonaut guest researcher since September, 1996. Astronaut Jerry M. Linenger will replace Blaha onboard Mir and the transfer will mark the second such direct exchange of cosmonaut guest researchers, though Linenger will be the fourth United States astronaut to spend a lengthy stay on Mir.

STS081-E-05094 (12 Jan. 1997) --- Astronauts Peter J. K. (Jeff) Wisoff (left) and John M. Grunsfeld, mission specialists, deploy two Passive Thermal Conditioning Units (PTCU) onboard the SPACEHAB Double Module (DM) late on Day 1 of the mission. The two units had been transported by the pair through the tunnel connecting SPACEHAB and the mid-deck of crew cabin of the Space Shuttle Atlantis. They are joined by four other NASA astronauts for the almost ten-day mission. The crew is scheduled to dock with Russia's Mir Space Station and pick up John E. Blaha, NASA astronaut who has been serving as a cosmonaut guest researcher since September 1996. Jerry M. Linenger (out of frame) will replace Blaha onboard Mir.

The Space Shuttle orbiter Atlantis touches down on Runway 33 at 9:22:44 a.m. EST Jan. 22 to conclude the fifth Shuttle-Mir docking mission and return NASA astronaut John Blaha to Earth after four months in space. Blaha was replaced by STS-81 Mission Specialist Jerry Linenger during the five days of docked operations. At main gear touchdown, the STS-81 mission duration was 10 days, 4 hours, 55 minutes. This was the 34th KSC landing in Shuttle history. Mission Commander Michael A. Baker flew Atlantis to a perfect landing, with help from Pilot Brent W. Jett, Jr. Other returning STS-81 crew members are Mission Specialists John M. Grunsfeld, Peter J. K. "Jeff" Wisoff and Marsha S. Ivins. Atlantis also brought back experiment samples from the Russian space station for analysis on Earth, along with Russian logistics equipment

STS081-E-5007 (12 Jan. 1997) --- Astronauts Peter J. K. (Jeff) Wisoff (left) and Jerry M. Linenger begin early housekeeping by putting in fresh lithium hydroxide canisters beneath the Space Shuttle Atlantis' middeck. Not far away in Atlantis' cargo bay, the two mission specialists and their four crew mates are flying the Spacehab Double Module (DM), replete with supplies for the three-man crew aboard Russia's Mir Space Station with which Atlantis will be docking later in the week. Linenger will trade places with John E. Blaha, marking the second such exchange of American astronaut - cosmonaut guest researcher's aboard Mir. Blaha had replaced Shannon W. Lucid in September of 1996. The scene was recorded with an Electronic Still Camera (ESC) and later downlinked to flight controllers in Houston, Texas.

The Space Shuttle orbiter Atlantis touches down on Runway 33 at 9:22:44 a.m. EST Jan. 22 to conclude the fifth Shuttle-Mir docking mission and return NASA astronaut John Blaha to Earth after four months in space. Blaha was replaced by STS-81 Mission Specialist Jerry Linenger during the five days of docked operations. At main gear touchdown, the STS-81 mission duration was 10 days, 4 hours, 55 minutes. This was the 34th KSC landing in Shuttle history. Mission Commander Michael A. Baker flew Atlantis to a perfect landing, with help from Pilot Brent W. Jett, Jr. Other returning STS-81 crew members are Mission Specialists John M. Grunsfeld, Peter J. K. "Jeff" Wisoff and Marsha S. Ivins. Atlantis also brought back experiment samples from the Russian space station for analysis on Earth, along with Russian logistics equipment

STS081-369-003 (12-22 Jan. 1997) --- Traditional inflight crew portrait of the combined Mir-22 and STS-81 crews in the Base Block Module aboard Russia's Mir Space Station. Front row: left to right, Michael A. Baker, commander; John M. Grunsfeld, mission specialist; and cosmonaut Aleksandr Y. Kaleri, Mir-22 flight engineer. Middle row: cosmonaut Valeri G. Korzun, Mir-22 commander; Marsha S. Ivins, mission specialist; and John E. Blaha, former cosmonaut guest researcher. Back row: Jerry M. Linenger, cosmonaut guest researcher; Peter J. K. (Jeff) Wisoff, mission specialist; and Brent W. Jett, Jr., pilot. Linenger is seen in a Russian jump suit, and Blaha now wears a Space Shuttle inflight garment as the two exchanged cosmonaut guest researcher roles on January 14, 1997, following the docking of the Atlantis and the Mir complex.

STS079-S-002 (May 1996) --- In various venues, these seven astronauts have been in training for several months for the different phases of the STS-79 mission scheduled for launch in August, 1996. Front row, left to right, are astronauts Jerome (Jay) Apt, mission specialist; Terrence W. Wilcutt, pilot; William F. Readdy, mission commander; Thomas D. Akers and Carl E. Walz, both mission specialists. On the back row are astronauts Shannon W. Lucid and John E. Blaha, both mission specialists. Lucid is currently aboard Russia’s Mir Space Station, having been delivered there by the Space Shuttle Atlantis crew of STS-76 in March, 1996. She will return to Earth with this crew, while Blaha will launch with this crew and remain onboard Mir for a subsequent tour of duty as a cosmonaut guest researcher.

STS081-E-5006 (12 Jan. 1997) --- Aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis on its first day in orbit for the mission, astronaut Jerry M. Linenger, mission specialist, has arranged his sleep station to his liking and prepares for his first rest period. Linenger and five crew mates are flying the Spacehab Double Module (DM), replete with supplies for the three-man crew aboard Russia's Mir Space Station with which Atlantis will be docking later in the week. Linenger will trade places with John E. Blaha marking the second such exchange of American astronaut - cosmonaut guest researcher's aboard Mir. Blaha had replaced Shannon W. Lucid in September of 1996. The scene was recorded with an Electronic Still Camera (ESC) and later downlinked to flight controllers in Houston, Texas.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The STS-79 astronauts arrive at KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility in their T-38 aircraft from Johnson Space Center in Houston. From left are Mission Specialists John E. Blaha and Tom Akers; Commander William F. Readdy; PIlot Terrence W. Wilcutt; and Mission Specialists Jay Apt and Carl E. Walz. The astronauts are at KSC for the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test, a dress rehearsal for launch. They are scheduled to lift off around Sept. 12 on Mission STS-79, the fourth docking between the U.S. Shuttle and Russian Space Station Mir.

STS029-S-064 (18 Mar 1989) --- A rear view photographed from the ground just after Discovery's main landing gear touches down on Runway 22 at Edwards Air Force Base in California following a successful five-day mission in Earth orbit. Onboard the spacecraft were Astronauts Michael L. Coats, John E. Blaha, James F. Buchli, Robert C. Springer and James P. Bagian. Wheels came to a stop at 6:36:40 a.m. (PST), March 18, 1989.

On November 22, 1989, at 7:23:30pm (EST), five astronauts were launched into space aboard the Space Shuttle Orbiter Discovery for the 5th Department of Defense (DOD) mission, STS-33. Crew members included Frederick D. Gregory, commander; John E. Blaha, pilot; and mission specialists Kathryn C. Thornton, Manley L. (Sonny) Carter, and F. Story Musgrave.

S89-45737 (19 September 1989) --- Official STS-33 crew portrait. These five astronauts will be aboard the space shuttle Discovery for a scheduled November 1989 mission for the Department of Defense (DOD). Frederick D. Gregory (center, front) is mission commander. He is flanked by Kathryn C. Thornton and F. Story Musgrave, mission specialists. At rear are Manley L. Carter, Jr., mission specialist, and John E. Blaha, pilot.

STS58-S-126 (1 Nov 1993) --- The Space Shuttle Columbia is about to touch down on the runway at Edwards Air Force Base (EAFB) in California. The landing, which occurred at 7:06 a.m. (PST), November 1, 1993, completed a two week mission in space devoted to medical research. Onboard the spacecraft were astronauts John E. Blaha, Richard A. Searfoss, Rhea Seddon, Shannon W. Lucid, David A. Wolf and William S. McArthur along with payload specialist Martin J. Fettman, DVM.

STS029-S-028 (13 March 1989) --- From Launch Pad 39B, the Space Shuttle Discovery is launched on Mission STS-29. Discovery lifted off at 9:57 a.m. (EST), March 13, 1989, carrying the tracking and data relay satellite (TDRS-1) into orbit. Onboard the spacecraft were astronauts Michael L. Coats, commander; John E. Blaha, pilot; and James F. Buchli, James P. Bagian and Robert C. Springer, all mission specialists.

On November 22, 1989, at 7:23:30pm (EST), five astronauts were launched into space aboard the Space Shuttle Orbiter Discovery for the 5th Department of Defense (DOD) mission, STS-33. Crew members included Frederick D. Gregory, commander; John E. Blaha, pilot; and mission specialists Kathryn C. Thornton, Manley L. (Sonny) Carter, and F. Story Musgrave.

STS058-14-006 (18 Oct- 1 Nov 1993) --- Astronaut Richard A. Searfoss, pilot, participates in an experiment that measures the effects of space flight on pilot proficiency. Astronauts Searfoss (seen here at the pilot's station) and John E. Blaha, mission commander, are conducting the first tests of the Portable Inflight Landing Operations Trainer (PILOT). STS-58 is the first of six scheduled test flights of PILOT designed to determine its effectiveness as a training tool.

STS058-S-090 (18 Oct 1993) --- Creating large clouds of smoke the Space Shuttle Columbia lifts off from Launch Complex 39 at Kennedy Space Center (KSC). Liftoff occurred at 10:53 a.m. (EDT), October 18, 1993. Along with its Spacelab Life Sciences-2 payload, Columbia carries astronauts John E. Blaha, Richard A. Searfoss, Rhea Seddon, Shannon W. Lucid, David A. Wolf and William S. McArthur along with payload specialist Martin J. Fettman.

STS029-02-002 (18 March 1989) --- Space Shuttle Discovery returns to Earth after five full days in space. Astronaut John E. Blaha mans the pilot's station. Note color in forward window shield caused by friction of entry through Earth's atmosphere. The photo was part of the first group of onboard photography from this flight released by NASA on March 19, 1989.

STS79-E-5388 (16 - 26 September 1996) --- Astronaut Shannon W. Lucid, former cosmonaut guest researcher, was photographed onboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis as the Russian Mir Space Station, her temporary "home" for the past six months, moves off to continue its mission with fellow astronaut John E. Blaha, cosmonaut guest researcher, aboard.

S88-52473 (8 Nov 1988) --- The commander and pilot of NASA's STS-29 mission get some training on the operation of one of the payloads for their upcoming spaceflight aboard Discovery. Astronauts Michael L. Coats, left, and John E. Blaha, along with the three other members of the crew, met with Imax personnel on the JSC grounds to practice using the motion-picture camera, making its first post-Challenger trip into space. The payload flew on a number of earlier STS flights.

STS043-37-012 (2-11 Aug 1991) --- Three STS-43 astronauts are busy at work onboard the earth-orbiting space shuttle Atlantis. Astronaut Shannon W. Lucid is pictured performing one of several tests on Computer hardware with space station applications in mind. Sharing the aft flight deck with Lucid are Michael A. Baker (left), pilot and John E. Blaha, mission commander.

STS79-E-5180 (20 September 1996) --- The entire crews of STS-79 and Mir-22 are shown during a gift exchange ceremony aboard Russia's Mir Space Station's Base Block, during Flight Day 5. Front row, from the left, John E. Blaha, Jerome (Jay) Apt, Carl E. Walz, Thomas D. Akers, Shannon W. Lucid, William F. Readdy and Valeri G. Korzun. Back row: Terrence W. Wilcutt and Aleksandr Y. Kaleri.

STS043-40-029 (2-11 Aug 1991) --- The five crewmembers on NASA's STS-43 mission pose for the traditional in-flight crew portrait. The photo should be oriented with Atlantis' middeck hatch on the right. Left to right are astronauts G. David Low, Shannon W. Lucid and James C. Adamson, all mission specialists; John E. Blaha, mission commander; and Michael A. Baker, pilot.

STS043-S-002 (May 1991) --- These five astronauts have been assigned to fly aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis for NASA's STS-43 mission. Astronaut John E. Blaha (center) is mission commander. Other crew members are, left to right, astronauts Shannon W. Lucid, James C. Adamson and G. David Low, all mission specialists; and Michael A. Baker, pilot.

STS79-E-5277 (23 September 1996) --- Astronaut Shannon W. Lucid, former cosmonaut guest researcher, checks on wheat plants aboard Russia's Mir Space Station, during Flight Day 8. Lucid, along with the rest of the STS-79 crew except for John E. Blaha, current cosmonaut guest researcher, is leaving Mir today.

S91-37294 (May 1991) --- Astronauts Michael A. Baker, left, and John E. Blaha, STS-43 pilot and mission commander, respectively, suit up for a session of emergency egress training at the Johnson Space Center's Shuttle Mockup and Integration Laboratory. Bill Todd, a crew escape equipment suit technician for Boeing, assits them. The two astronauts are wearing the orange partial pressure suits which are used by Shuttle crewmembers during launch and entry phases of their flights.

Launched aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis on August 2, 1991, the STS-43 mission’s primary payload was the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite 5 (TDRS-5) attached to an Inertial Upper Stage (IUS), which became the 4th member of an orbiting TDRS cluster. The flight crew consisted of five astronauts: John E. Blaha, commander; Michael A. Baker, pilot; Shannon W. Lucid, mission specialist 1; James C. Adamson, mission specialist 2; and G. David Low, mission specialist 3.

Five astronauts launched aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery on March 13, 1989 at 9:57 am (EST) for the STS-29 mission. Included were James P. Bagian, mission specialist 1; Robert C. Springer, mission specialist 3; James F. (Jim) Buchli, mission specialist 2; John E. Blaha, pilot; and Michael L. Coats, commander. The mission’s primary payload was the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite-4 (TDRS-4).

S88-52469 (8 Nov 1988) --- Astronauts John E. Blaha, left, and Robert C. Springer, STS-29 pilot and mission specialist, respectively, get in some training on the operation of one of the payloads for their upcoming spaceflight aboard Discovery. The crew met with Imax personnel on the JSC grounds to practice using the motion-picture camera, making its first post-Challenger trip into space. The payload flew on a number of earlier STS flights.

STS029-S-065 (18 March 1989) --- The five-man crew who flew aboard NASA's Space Shuttle Discovery (background) pose near it following a successful five-day mission in space. Left to right are Astronauts John E. Blaha, pilot, and James P. Bagian, mission specialist; Michael L. Coats, commander; and James F. Buchli and Robert C. Springer, mission specialists.

STS033-22-035 (22-27 Nov. 1989) --- STS-33 crewmembers, wearing mission polo shirts, pose on the middeck of the Space Shuttle Discovery for an in-flight crew portrait. Clockwise (starting at left) are astronauts Frederick D. Gregory, commander; Kathryn C. Thornton, mission specialist; John E. Blaha, pilot; Manley L. (Sonny) Carter Jr., and F. Story Musgrave, mission specialists.

S89-25326 (11 Jan 1989) --- Five astronauts field questions from the news media, as they interrupt a busy training schedule in preparation for NASA's STS-29 mission in mid-March. Left to right on the dais are Astronauts James P. Bagian, James F. Buchli, Robert C. Springer, John E. Blaha and Michael L. Coats. Coats is mission commander. Jeffrey E. Carr of the Media Services Branch of JSC's Public Affairs Office, is at far right.

STS081-372-035 --- On Russia’s Mir Space Station Base Block Module, astronaut Jerry M. Linenger, is pictured soon after assuming duties as cosmonaut guest researcher. This was the first donning of his space suit for Mir-22 duties. Linenger replaced astronaut John E. Blaha in the Mir support role. He will be replaced by astronaut C. Michael Foale when the Atlantis re-docks with Mir in May of this year.

Five astronauts launched aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery on March 13, 1989 at 9:57 am (EST) for the STS-29 mission. Included were James P. Bagian, mission specialist 1; Robert C. Springer, mission specialist 3; James F. (Jim) Buchli, mission specialist 2; John E. Blaha, pilot; and Michael L. Coats, commander. The mission’s primary payload was the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite-4 (TDRS-4).

S88-54948 (6 Dec 1988) --- The STS-29 crewmembers are trained in procedures to follow in the event of a fire with their spacecraft. Here, the crew is briefed on correct handling of the fire extinguisher by Robert Fife (far left) of NASA's fire and security staff. Pictured, left to right, are Astronauts John E. Blaha, pilot; Michael L. Coats, mission commander; Robert C. Springer, James F. Buchli and James P. Bagian, mission specialists. The training exercise took place on the northern end of the 1625-acre JSC facility.

STS029-S-027 (13 March 1989) --- From Launch Pad 39D, the Space Shuttle Discovery is launched on mission STS-29. Discovery lifted off at 9:57 a.m. (EST), March 13, 1989, carrying the tracking and data relay satellite (TDRS-1) into orbit. Florida vegetation frames the launch scene. Onboard the spacecraft were astronauts Michael L. Coats, commander; John E. Blaha, pilot; and James F. Buchli, James P. Bagian and Robert C. Springer, all mission specialists.

S93-38675 (20 July 1993) --- Wearing training versions of the partial pressure launch and entry garment, astronauts Richard A. Searfoss (left), pilot, and John E. Blaha, mission commander, prepare for a training exercise. The two, along with the four other NASA astronauts and a visiting payload specialist asssigned to the seven-member crew, later rehearsed contingency evacuation procedures. Most of the training session took part in the crew compartment and full fuselage trainers in the Space Shuttle mockup and integration laboratory.

S89-26240 (20 Jan 1989) --- Four of the five STS-29 crewmembers inspect the content of their emergency medical and medication kits during the recent bench review of middeck locker equipment avaialable for their scheduled March 1989 flight. From left to right are Astronauts James H. Buchli, John E. Blaha, James P. Bagian and Michael L. Coats. Not pictured is Robert C. Springer.

STS058-S-092 (18 Oct 1993) --- The Space Shuttle Columbia, with a crew of seven and a science module aboard, lifts off from Launch Complex 39 at Kennedy Space Center (KSC), leaving its reflection in nearby marsh. Launch occurred at 10:53 a.m. (EDT), October 18, 1993. Onboard were astronauts John E. Blaha, Richard A. Searfoss, Rhea Seddon, Shannon W. Lucid, David A. Wolf and William S. McArthur along with payload specialist Martin J. Fettman.

S93-38672 (20 July 1993) --- Wearing training versions of the partial pressure launch and entry garment, the STS-58 crewmembers prepare for a training exercise. After being briefed by astronaut John E. Blaha (right), mission commander, the group rehearsed contingency evacuation procedures. Most of the training session took part in the crew compartment and full fuselage trainers in the Space Shuttle mockup and integration laboratory.

STS081-318-031 (12-22 Jan. 1997) --- Astronauts Brent W. Jett, Jr. (left), STS-81 pilot, and John E. Blaha in the Spacehab Double Module (DM) evaluate the Crew Medical Restraint System (CMRS) carrier, onboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis. The device is an emergency aid forerunner for hardware on the International Space Station (ISS).

Launched aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis on August 2, 1991, the STS-43 mission’s primary payload was the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite 5 (TDRS-5) attached to an Inertial Upper Stage (IUS), which became the 4th member of an orbiting TDRS cluster. The flight crew consisted of 5 astronauts: John E. Blaha, commander; Michael A. Baker, pilot; Shannon W. Lucid, mission specialist 1; James C. Adamson, mission specialist 2; and G. David Low, mission specialist 3.

STS029-71-026 (13 March 1989) --- The Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS-D) is tilted in the cargo bay prior to its release via a remote system on Discovery's flight deck. This photographic frame was among NASA's third STS-29 photo release. Monday, March 20, 1989. Crewmembers were Astronauts Michael L. Coats, John E. Blaha, James F. Buchli, Robert C. Springer and James P. Bagian.

STS029-S-047 (16 Mar 1989) --- Student experimenter John C. Vellinger, right, watches a TV monitor in the customer support room of Johnson Space Center's mission control center during a downlink from the spacecraft of astronaut John E. Blaha conducting the experiment in the incubator used for the test. The experiment is titled "Chicken Embryo Development in Space." Also visible are Neil Criestie and Robert N. Stuckey of JSC. The experiment's sponsor is Kentucky Fried Chicken.

S89-25082 (January 1989) --- Space shuttle Discovery will be manned by these five astronauts when it makes it second flight within a five-month period next month. The STS-29 crew members are (front row), Michael L. Coats (right), commander; and John E. Blaha, pilot; (left to right back row) James P. Bagian, Robert C. Springer and James F. Buchli, mission specialists. Photo credit: NASA

S89-28089 (24 Jan 1989) --- The Space Shuttle Discovery is lowered for mating to the external tank and two solid rockert boosters in the vehicle assembly building (VAB) at the Kennedy Space Center. Onboard the spacecraft in mid-March for a five-day mission, on which will be deployed a third tracking and data relay satellite (TDRS-D), will be Astronauts Michael L. Coats, John E. Blaha, James F. Buchli, James P. Bagian and Robert C. Springer.

STS033-S-010 (27 Nov 1989) --- The Space Shuttle Discovery, with a crew of five astronauts aboard, touches down on a runway at Edwards Air Force Base in southern California. The landing occurred at 16:31:02 p.m. (PST), Nov. 27, 1989. Onboard Discovery for the DOD-devoted mission were astronauts Frederick D. Gregory, John E. Blaha, Kathryn C. Thornton, F. Story Musgrave and Manley L. Carter.

The crew patch for STS-81 , the fifth Shuttle-Mir docking mission, is shaped to represent the Roman numeral V. The Shuttle Atlantis is launching toward a rendezvous with Russia's Mir Space Station, silhouetted in the background. Atlantis and the STS-81 crew spent several days docked to Mir during which time Jerry M. Lineger (NASA-Mir-4) replaced astronaut John Blaha (NASA-Mir-3) as the U.S. crew member onboard Mir. The U.S. and Russian flags are depicted along with the names of the shuttle crew.