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.