STS075-S-004 (22 Feb. 1996) --- The space shuttle Columbia clears the tower to begin the mission. The liftoff occurred on schedule at 3:18:00 p.m. (EST), Feb. 22, 1996. Visible at left is the White Room on the orbiter access arm through which the flight crew had entered the orbiter. Onboard Columbia for the scheduled two-week mission were astronauts Andrew M. Allen, commander; Scott J. Horowitz, pilot; Franklin R. Chang-Diaz, payload commander; and astronauts Maurizio Cheli, Jeffrey A. Hoffman and Claude Nicollier, along with payload specialist Umberto Guidoni. Cheli and Nicollier represent the European Space Agency (ESA), while Guidoni represents the Italian Space Agency (ASI).

STS-75 Columbia OV-102 launch

STS075-S-007 (22 Feb. 1996) --- A remote camera at Launch Pad 39B, at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC), recorded this profile view of the space shuttle Columbia as it cleared the tower to begin the mission. The liftoff occurred on schedule at 3:18:00 p.m. (EST), Feb. 22, 1996. Onboard Columbia for the scheduled two-week mission were astronauts Andrew M. Allen, commander; Scott J. Horowitz, pilot; Franklin R. Chang-Diaz, payload commander; and astronauts Maurizio Cheli, Jeffrey A. Hoffman and Claude Nicollier, along with payload specialist Umberto Guidoni. Cheli and Nicollier represent the European Space Agency (ESA), while Guidoni represents the Italian Space Agency (ASI).

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The Space Shuttle Columbia arrives at Launch Pad 39B following an approximate seven-hour journey from the Vehicle Assembly Building. Columbia is being prepared for a targeted Feb. 22 liftoff on Mission STS-75, which will feature a re-flight of the Tethered Satellite System (TSS-1R) and the third flight of the U.S. Microgravity Payload (USMP-3)

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STS075-322-012 (9 March 1996) --- Seated at the pilot's station, astronaut Scott J. Horowitz uses a mirror to monitor the vertical stabilizer and the aft cargo bay area during the entry phase of the flight. Horowitz, pilot, joined four other astronauts and an international payload specialist for 16 days of scientific research in Earth-orbit.

Astronaut Horowitz at shuttle controls for reentry

STS-75 crew preparing for landing

STS075-355-032 (9 March 1996) --- Payload specialist Umberto Guidoni, wearing the shuttle launch and entry garment, prepares for the de-orbit phase of the 16-day flight. Guidoni represents the Italian Space Agency (ASI). The seven member crew was launched aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia on February 22, 1996, and landed on March 9, 1996. Crew members were Andrew M. Allen, mission commander; Scott J. Horowitz, pilot; Franklin R. Chang-Diaz, payload commander; and Maurizio Cheli, European Space Agency (ESA); Jeffrey A. Hoffman and Claude Nicollier, (ESA), all mission specialists; along with Guidoni.

Space Shuttle Project

The Space Shuttle Columbia (STS-75) cleared the tower following an on-time liftoff from Launch Pad 39B. Visible at lower left is the white room on the orbiter access arm through which the flight crew entered the orbiter earlier. Columbia's mission lasted 14 days and included retesting of the Tethered Satellite System (TSS-1R) and the third flight of the United States Microgravity Payload (USMP-3), both of which are managed by scientist at Marshall Space Flight Center. Included in Columbia's flight crew were members of the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Italian Space Agency (ASI), Mission Specialists Maurizio Cheli, Claude Nicollier and Payload Specialist Umberto Guidoni, respectively.