Space History Photo: STS-86 Rollout

Space Shuttle Atlantis is shown during rollout onto Launch Pad 39A. (Image credit: NASA.)

In this historical photo from the U.S. space agency, shortly before dawn on Aug. 18, 1997, a red-rimmed moon helps to light the way for the Space Shuttle Atlantis as it rolls out to Launch Pad 39A in preparation for launch of Mission STS-86.

STS-86 will be the seventh docking of the Space Shuttle with the Russian Space Station Mir. Liftoff is targeted for no earlier than September 22.

Each weekday, SPACE.com looks back at the history of spaceflight through photos (archive).

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