Check out NASA's Homepage for the latest on the STS-90   The Space Shuttle Columbia soared from Launch Pad 39B at 2:19 p.m. EDT Apr. 17, 1998 to begin the nearly 17-day STS-90 Neurolab mission. The launch was delayed 24 hours due to difficulty with a network signal processor, which was replaced Apr. 16, on the orbiter. The crew members are Commander Richard Searfoss, Pilot Scott Altman, Mission Specialists Richard Linnehan, D.V.M., Dafydd (Dave) Williams, M.D., with the Canadian Space Agency, and Kathryn (Kay) Hire; and Payload Specialists Jay Buckey, M.D., and James Pawelczyk, Ph.D. Investigations during the Neurolab mission will focus on the effects of microgravity on the nervous system.
 

Scott Altman a 38year old native of Pekin, Illinois who attended Edison and Pekin High Scool is the pilot of the Space Shuttle Columbia.  He graduated from Pekin Community High School in 1977. He received a bachelor of science degree in aeronautical and astronautical engineering from the University of Illinois in May 1981, and a master of science degree in aeronautical engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School in June 1990.  Selected as an astronaut candidate by NASA in December 1994, Altman reported to the Johnson Space Center in March 1995.  Scott is a part of the command crew along with Commander Rick Searfoss and flight engineer Kay Hire.  Their job is to fly the shuttle and help maintain the ship's systems while scientists on board perform experiments during the 17 day mission.

  Here are a few pictures of Scott Altman and the mission. (click on them to view the full size photo)