STS046-33-028 (4 Aug. 1992) --- With the possibility of an extravehicular activity (EVA) being added to the agenda, the two EVA-trained crew members begin their "pre-breathe" period on the space shuttle Atlantis' flight deck. Astronauts Jeffrey A. Hoffman (left), payload commander, and Franklin R. Chang-Diaz, mission specialist, reported to this station and began the "pre-breathe" process when problems developed during the extension of the Tethered Satellite System (TSS). When the human body is exposed to a sudden decrease in atmospheric pressure (for instance, from the 10.2 ppsi in the crew cabin to the 4.5 ppsi of the Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) spacesuit), nitrogen traces in the bloodstream will expand. This expansion can create tiny bubbles and potential for the "bends". In order to lessen the effect, an astronaut must "pre-breathe" pure oxygen (the same pure oxygen that he will breathe in the suit) to help "purge" nitrogen from his/her bloodstream before exerting him/herself in the low-pressure environment of the suit. The "pre-breathe" exercise and the EVA turned out to be not needed as the TSS operations were resumed by remote operations.

STS046-24-025 (31 July-8 Aug. 1992) --- Astronaut Andrew M. Allen, STS-46 pilot, exercises on the bicycle ergometer device on the flight deck of the Space Shuttle Atlantis as it makes one of its 127 total orbits for the eight-day mission. Allen, equipped with sensors for monitoring his biological systems during the run, was joined by four other NASA astronauts and two European scientists on the mission.

This Space Shuttle Orbiter Atlantis (STS-46) onboard photo shows Swiss scientist Claude Nicollier of the European Space Agency (ESA) supporting the Tether Opitical Phenomena (TOP) activities on the flight deck. The Tethered Satellite System (TSS) was a cooperative development effort by the Italian Space Agency (ASI) and NASA made capable of deploying and retrieving a satellite which is attached by a wire tether from distances up to 100 km from the Orbiter. These free-flying satellites are used as observation platforms outside of the Orbiter.

STS046-19-037 (8 Aug 1992) --- Having completed eight days in Earth-orbit, the crew members prepare for their brief journey home. Left to right are Andrew M. Allen, pilot; Claude Nicollier, mission specialist representing the European Space Agency (ESA); and Marsha S. Ivins, mission specialist. Just out of frame, at left, is Loren J. Shriver, mission commander, who guided the Space Shuttle Atlantis in for its Kennedy Space Center (KSC), Florida landing.

STS046-10-003 (8 Aug. 1992) --- Astronaut Andrew M. Allen, STS-46 pilot, positioned in the pilot's station and wearing a partial pressure launch and entry suit, prepares for the final leg of the mission. Allen and six fellow crew members had just shared a busy eight-day stay in Earth-orbit aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis.

STS046-12-009 (31 July-8 Aug. 1992) --- The seven crew members for the STS-46 mission pose for the traditional in-flight portrait onboard the Earth-orbiting space shuttle Atlantis. In the rear are, left to right, astronauts Loren J. Shriver, commander; Andrew M. Allen, pilot; and Franklin R. Chang-Diaz, mission specialist. In front are, left to right, Swiss scientist Claude Nicollier, mission specialist representing the European Space Agency (ESA); astronaut Jeffrey A. Hoffman, payload commander; astronaut Marsha S. Ivins, mission specialist; and Franco Malerba, payload specialist representing the Italian Space Agency (ASI).

STS046-14-013 (4 Aug. 1992) --- Five of the seven crew members squeezed into this busy scene on the Space Shuttle Atlantis' flight deck during operations with the Tethered Satellite System (TSS). Pictured are, left to right, Franklin R. Chang-Diaz, Loren J. Shriver, Claude Nicollier, Franco Malerba and Andrew M. Allen. Not pictured are astronauts Jeffrey A. Hoffman and Marsha S. Ivins. Mission specialist Ivins used a 35mm camera with a 16mm lens to take this picture.