Crew & Mission

(STS045-S-002 -) --- Official portrait of the STS-45 Atlantis, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 104, crewmembers selected for the Atmospheric Laboratory for Applications and Science 1 (ATLAS-1) mission. Wearing launch and entry suits (LESs), holding launch and entry helmets (LEHs), and seated in front are Commander Charles F. Bolden (right) and Pilot Brian Duffy (left). Standing behind them, also in LESs, are (left to right) Payload Specialist Byron K. Lichtenberg, Mission Specialist (MS) C. Michael Foale, MS Daivd C. Leestma, MS and Payload Commander (PLC) Kathryn D. Sullivan, and Payload Specialist Dirk D. Frimout of Belgium. The backdrop is the Earth limb at sunset and was added using a double exposure technique by NASA JSC contract photographer Mark Sowa.

The Artwork

(STS045-S-001 -) --- Designed by the crewmembers, the STS 45 patch depicts the Space Shuttle launching from the Kennedy Space Center into a high inclination orbit. From this vantage point, the Atmospheric Laboratory for Applications and Science (ATLAS) payload can view Earth, the sun, and their dynamic interactions against the background of space. Earth is prominently displayed and is the focus of the mission's space plasma physics and Earth sciences observations. The colors of the setting sun, measured by sensitive instruments, provide detailed information about ozone, carbon dioxide and other gases which determine Earth's climate and environment. Encircling the scene are the names of the flight crewmembers: Charles F. Bolden Jr., mission commander; Brian Duffy, pilot; C. Michael Foale, David C. Leestma, and Kathryn D. Sullivan, all mission specialists; and Dirk Frimout and Byron K. Lichtenberg, payload specialists. The additional star in the ring is to recognize Charles R. Chappell and Michael Lampton, alternate payload specialists, and the entire ATLAS-1 team for its dedication and support of this "Mission to Planet Earth."

First Design

Michael Lampton came very close to going to space twice. However, he never did. Dr. Michael Lampton, astrophysicist from U.C. Berkeley was the alternative payload specialist on Spacelab-1/STS-9 in 1983, and had initially been assigned to the flight crew of ATLAS-1/STS-45 in 1992. Due to health complications, Mike was unable to fly, but with great team spirit, he worked as hard as anyone on the ground to make that mission such a success.