STS-76 was the 16th mission of NASA's Space Shuttle program and launched on March 22, 1996. The mission's primary objective was to deliver supplies and equipment to the Mir space station, marking the first shuttle visit to the Russian station. During the mission, astronauts conducted a series of scientific experiments and technology demonstrations. The crew included Commander Kevin Kregel, Pilot Tom Henricks, and Mission Specialists John Lounge, Linda Godwin, and Russian cosmonaut Alexander Serebrov. The shuttle returned to Earth on March 31, 1996, successfully completing its objectives.