123
STS-72 Preparation - RSS roll back
1/10/96

The Rotating Service Structure (RSS) is rolled back at 
Launch Pad 39B to reveal in full the Space Shuttle 
Endeavour.  Rollback of the RSS marks another major 
milestone in the approximately three-day-long Shuttle launch 
countdown process.  Endeavour is being prepared for liftoff 
on the first Shuttle flight of 1996, Mission STS-72, at 4:18 
am EST, January 11.  Behind the shuttle, water gushes from 
the Sound Suppression system tank as it is topped off, a 
procedure that also is performed in preparation for launch.

124
STS-72 Preparation - RSS roll back
1/10/96

The Rotating Service Structure (RSS) is rolled back at 
Launch Pad 39B to reveal in full the Space Shuttle 
Endeavour.  Rollback of the RSS marks another major 
milestone in the approximately three-day-long Shuttle launch 
countdown process.  Endeavour is being prepared for liftoff 
on the first Shuttle flight of 1996, Mission STS-72, at 4:18 
am EST, January 11.  Behind the shuttle, water gushes from 
the Sound Suppression system tank as it is topped off, a 
procedure that also is performed in preparation for launch.

125
STS-72 Preparation - RSS roll back - panoramic view
1/10/96

The Rotating Service Structure (RSS) is rolled back at 
Launch Pad 39B to reveal in full the Space Shuttle 
Endeavour.  Rollback of the RSS marks another major 
milestone in the approximately three-day-long Shuttle launch 
countdown process.  Endeavour is being prepared for liftoff 
on the first Shuttle flight of 1996, Mission STS-72, at 4:18 
am EST, January 11.  The "Go Endeavour" banner is provided
by NASAs Space Flight Awareness program.

126
STS-72 Preparation - RSS roll back - top of pad view
1/10/96

This distinctive view of the Space Shuttle Endeavour was 
taken from the Rotating Service Structure (RSS) as it was 
being rolled away from the vehicle at Launch Pad 39B.  
Endeavour is being prepared for liftoff on the first Shuttle 
flight of 1996, Mission STS-72, at 4:18 am EST, January 11.  
Rollback of the RSS marks another major milestone in the 
approximately three-day-long Shuttle launch countdown 
process.

128
STS-72 Liftoff
1/11/96

The Space Shuttle Endeavour lights up the night sky as it 
thunders aloft from Launch Pad 39B.  Liftoff of Mission STS-
72 occurred at 4:41:00.072 am EST, January 11, kicking off 
the 1996 Shuttle launch schedule.  On board Endeavour are a 
crew of six:  Commander Brian Duffy; Pilot Brent W. Jett; 
and Mission Specialists Dr. Daniel T. Barry, Leroy Chiao, 
Winston E. Scott, and Koichi Wakata, who represents the 
National Space Development Agency (NASDA) of Japan.  During 
their planned nine-day mission, the crew will retrieve the 
Japanese Space Flyer Unit (SFU), deploy and later retrieve 
the Office of Aeronautics and Space Technology-Flyer (OAST-
Flyer), and conduct two extravehicular activities (EVAs).  
STS-72 is the 74th Shuttle mission and the 10th flight of the 
orbiter Endeavour.

129
STS-72 Liftoff
1/11/96

The Space Shuttle Endeavour lights up the night sky as it 
thunders aloft from Launch Pad 39B.  Liftoff of Mission STS-
72 occurred at 4:41:00.072 am EST, January 11, kicking off 
the 1996 Shuttle launch schedule.  On board Endeavour are a 
crew of six:  Commander Brian Duffy; Pilot Brent W. Jett; 
and Mission Specialists Dr. Daniel T. Barry, Leroy Chiao, 
Winston E. Scott, and Koichi Wakata, who represents the 
National Space Development Agency (NASDA) of Japan.  During 
their planned nine-day mission, the crew will retrieve the 
Japanese Space Flyer Unit (SFU), deploy and later retrieve 
the Office of Aeronautics and Space Technology-Flyer (OAST-
Flyer), and conduct two extravehicular activities (EVAs).  
STS-72 is the 74th Shuttle mission and the 10th flight of the 
orbiter Endeavour.

130
STS-72 Liftoff
1/11/96

The Space Shuttle Endeavour lights up the night sky as it 
thunders aloft from Launch Pad 39B.  Liftoff of Mission STS-
72 occurred at 4:41:00.072 am EST, January 11, kicking off 
the 1996 Shuttle launch schedule.  On board Endeavour are a 
crew of six:  Commander Brian Duffy; Pilot Brent W. Jett; 
and Mission Specialists Dr. Daniel T. Barry, Leroy Chiao, 
Winston E. Scott, and Koichi Wakata, who represents the 
National Space Development Agency (NASDA) of Japan.  During 
their planned nine-day mission, the crew will retrieve the 
Japanese Space Flyer Unit (SFU), deploy and later retrieve 
the Office of Aeronautics and Space Technology-Flyer (OAST-
Flyer), and conduct two extravehicular activities (EVAs).  
STS-72 is the 74th Shuttle mission and the 10th flight of the 
orbiter Endeavour.

131
STS-72 Liftoff
1/11/96

The Space Shuttle Endeavour slices through the night, 
hurtling skyward from Launch Pad 39B at 4:41:00.072 am EST, 
January 11.  The nearly on-time launch of Mission STS-72 
kicks off the 1996 Shuttle launch schedule. On board 
Endeavour are a crew of six:  Commander Brian Duffy; Pilot 
Brent W. Jett; and Mission Specialists Dr. Daniel T. Barry, 
Leroy Chiao, Winston E. Scott, and Koichi Wakata, who 
represents the National Space Development Agency (NASDA) of 
Japan.  During their planned nine-day mission, the crew will 
retrieve the Japanese Space Flyer Unit (SFU), deploy and 
later retrieve the Office of Aeronautics and Space 
Technology-Flyer (OAST-Flyer), and conduct two 
extravehicular activities (EVAs).  STS-72 is the 74th Shuttle 
mission and the 10th flight of the orbiter Endeavour.

132
STS-72 Liftoff
1/11/96

The Space Shuttle Endeavour cuts a swath through the early 
morning darkness and fills the night sky with blinding 
light.  Liftoff on Mission STS-72 occurred from Launch Pad 
39B at 4:40:00.072 am EST, January 11, kicking off the 1996 
Shuttle launch schedule. On board Endeavour are a crew of 
six:  Commander Brian Duffy; Pilot Brent W. Jett; and 
Mission Specialists Dr. Daniel T. Barry, Leroy Chiao, 
Winston E. Scott, and Koichi Wakata, who represents the 
National Space Development Agency (NASDA) of Japan.  During 
their planned nine-day mission, the crew will retrieve the 
Japanese Space Flyer Unit (SFU), deploy and later retrieve 
the Office of Aeronautics and Space Technology-Flyer (OAST-
Flyer), and conduct two extravehicular activities (EVAs).  
STS-72 is the 74th Shuttle mission and the 10th flight of the 
orbiter Endeavour.

133
STS-72 Liftoff
1/11/96

The Space Shuttle Endeavour slices through the night, 
hurtling skyward from Launch Pad 39B at 4:41:00.072 am EST, 
January 11.  The nearly on-time launch of Mission STS-72 
kicks off the 1996 Shuttle launch schedule. On board 
Endeavour are a crew of six:  Commander Brian Duffy; Pilot 
Brent W. Jett; and Mission Specialists Dr. Daniel T. Barry, 
Leroy Chiao, Winston E. Scott, and Koichi Wakata, who 
represents the National Space Development Agency (NASDA) of 
Japan.  During their planned nine-day mission, the crew will 
retrieve the Japanese Space Flyer Unit (SFU), deploy and 
later retrieve the Office of Aeronautics and Space 
Technology-Flyer (OAST-Flyer), and conduct two 
extravehicular activities (EVAs).  STS-72 is the 74th Shuttle 
mission and the 10th flight of the orbiter Endeavour.


134
STS-72 Liftoff
1/11/96

The Space Shuttle Endeavour slices through the night, 
hurtling skyward from Launch Pad 39B at 4:41:00.072 am EST, 
January 11.  The nearly on-time launch of Mission STS-72 
kicks off the 1996 Shuttle launch schedule. On board 
Endeavour are a crew of six:  Commander Brian Duffy; Pilot 
Brent W. Jett; and Mission Specialists Dr. Daniel T. Barry, 
Leroy Chiao, Winston E. Scott, and Koichi Wakata, who 
represents the National Space Development Agency (NASDA) of 
Japan.  During their planned nine-day mission, the crew will 
retrieve the Japanese Space Flyer Unit (SFU), deploy and 
later retrieve the Office of Aeronautics and Space 
Technology-Flyer (OAST-Flyer), and conduct two 
extravehicular activities (EVAs).  STS-72 is the 74th Shuttle 
mission and the 10th flight of the orbiter Endeavour.

135
STS-72 Liftoff
1/11/96

The Space Shuttle Endeavour lights up the night sky as it 
thunders aloft from Launch Pad 39B.  Liftoff of Mission STS-
72 occurred at 4:41:00.072 am EST, January 11, kicking off 
the 1996 Shuttle launch schedule.  On board Endeavour are a 
crew of six:  Commander Brian Duffy; Pilot Brent W. Jett; 
and Mission Specialists Dr. Daniel T. Barry, Leroy Chiao, 
Winston E. Scott, and Koichi Wakata, who represents the 
National Space Development Agency (NASDA) of Japan.  During 
their planned nine-day mission, the crew will retrieve the 
Japanese Space Flyer Unit (SFU), deploy and later retrieve 
the Office of Aeronautics and Space Technology-Flyer (OAST-
Flyer), and conduct two extravehicular activities (EVAs).  
STS-72 is the 74th Shuttle mission and the 10th flight of the 
orbiter Endeavour.

136
STS-72 Commander Duffy enters Endeavour
1/11/96

STS-72 Commander Brian Duffy (center) prepares to enter the 
Space Shuttle Endeavour at Launch Pad 39B, as members of the 
white room closeout crew assist him and STS-72 Mission 
Specialist Dr. Daniel T. Barry (left) waits his turn.  
Endeavour is set to lift off during an approximately 49-
minute window opening at 4:18am EST, Jan. 11.

137
STS-72 Mission Specialist Barry enters Endeavour
1/11/96

STS-72 Mission Specialist Dr. Daniel T. Barry (center) 
prepares to enter the Space Shuttle Endeavour at Launch Pad 
39B, as white room closeout crew members Mike Mangione (no. 
1, closeout crew lead), Travis Thompson (no. 4) and Jim 
Davis (no. 6) assist him.  Endeavour is set to lift off 
during and approximately 49-minute window opening at 4:18 am 
EST, Jan. 11.

138
STS-72 Pilot Jett enters Endeavour
1/11/96

STS-72 Brent W. Jett, Jr. Prepares to enter the Space 
Shuttle Endeavour at Launch Pad 39B, as white room closeout 
crew members Mike Mangione (no. 1, closeout crew lead) and 
Jim Davis (right) assist him.  Endeavour is set to lift off 
during and approximately 49-minute window opening at 4:18 am 
EST, Jan. 11.

139
STS-72 MS Leroy Chiao enters Endeavour
1/11/96

STS-72 Mission Specialist Leroy Chiao (center) prepares to 
enter the Space Shuttle Endeavour at Launch Pad 39B, as 
white room closeout crew members Mike Mangione (no. 1, 
closeout crew lead), Jim Davis (no. 6) and George Schram 
(no. 5) assist him.  Endeavour is set to lift off during and 
approximately 49-minute window opening at 4:18 am EST, Jan. 
11.

140
STS-72 MS Koichi Wakata enters Endeavour
1/11/96

STS-72 Mission Specialist Koichi Wakata (center) prepares to 
enter the Space Chuttle Endeavour at Launch Pad 39B, as 
white room closeout crew members Mike Mangione (no. 1, 
closeout crew lead) and George Schram (no. 5) assist him. 
Wakata represents the National Space Development Agency of 
Japan.  Endeavour is set to lift off during and 
approximately 49-minute window opening at 4:18 am EST, Jan. 
11.

141
STS-72 MS Winston E. Scott enters Endeavour
1/11/96

STS-72 Mission Specialist Winston E. Scott (center) prepares 
to enter the Space shuttle Endeavour at Launch Pad 39B, as 
white room closeout crew members Mike Mangione (no. 1, 
closeout crew lead) and Jim Davis (no. 6) assist him.  
Endeavour is set to lift off during an approximately 49-
minute window opening at 4:18 am EST, Jan. 11.