Workers at Launch Pad 39! prepare to close the payload bay doors on Atlantis

Workers at Launch Pad 39A preparing to close the payload bay doors on the Space Shuttle Atlantis for its launch on Mission STS-74 and the second docking with the Russian Space Station Mir. Uppermost in the payload bay is the Orbiter Docking System (ODS), which also flew on the first docking flight between the Space Shuttle and Mir. Lowermost is the primary payload of STS-74, the Russian-built Docking Module. During the mission, the Docking Module was first attached to ODS and then to Mir. It was left attached to Mir to become a permanent extension that afforded adequate clearance between the orbiter and the station during later dockings. At left in the payload bay, looking like a very long pole, is the Canadian-built Remote Manipulator System arm that was used by the crew to hoist the Docking Module and attach it to the ODS.