NASA launches Space Shuttle Atlantis on the 73rd shuttle flight, an eight-day mission to dock with Russian space station Mir. Due to the docking difficulties of the first flight – which required Mir crew members to move one of their station’s modules out of the shuttle’s way temporarily – Atlantis carries a Russian-made docking adapter which adds a tunnel to one of Mir’s docking ports, allowing the shuttle to join up with the station without further module relocation. Atlantis carries Commander Kenneth Cameron, Pilot James Halsell, and mission specialists Jerry Ross, William McArthur and Chris Hadfield to visit Mir; there is no crew exchange on this flight.
Fox premieres 
Cable channel TNT buys a package of reruns, presuming a three-season, 66-episode run, of the science fiction series Babylon 5, to begin airing in 1998. As TNT and PTEN are both owned by Warner Bros., the deal is seen as an “inside trade” among corporate siblings for a series unlikely to have a wide market for buyers in rerun form. Unknown to anyone at the time, this deal will have a major impact on the series’ future, particularly when the PTEN network begins to fall apart.
The week-long national syndication window opens for 
UPN airs the 
The week-long national syndication window opens for the 
The 
The week-long national syndication window opens for 
The ninth episode of science fiction series Deadly Games is broadcast on UPN, starring James Calvert, Cynthia Gibb, and Chrstopher Lloyd (Taxi, Back To The Future); Leonard Nimoy serves as the series’ executive producer. Victoria Rowell guest stars.
Virgin Publishing releases the 
Virgin Publishing releases 
The 57th episode of Chris Carter’s modern-day science fiction series The X-Files airs on Fox, starring Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny. Jewel Staite (Firefly) guest stars.
The 58th episode of the supernatural crime series Forever Knight airs in syndication, starring Geraint Wyn-Davies, Catherine Disher, Nigel Bennett, and Lisa Ryder.
The 51st episode of Lois & Clark: The New Adventures Of Superman airs on ABC, starring Dean Cain and Teri Hatcher. Joel Brooks and Dave Coulier (Full House) guest star.
Fox premieres 
The week-long national syndication window opens for 
UPN airs the 
The week-long national syndication window opens for the 
The 
The week-long national syndication window opens for 
Featuring a variety of rare tracks, outtakes, rehearsals and live performances, and accompanied by a media blitz that includes a heavily hyped TV special, 
A CD of 
Jump Cut Records releases the album 
Fox premieres 
The week-long national syndication window opens for 
UPN airs the