Highlights of this mission included the deployment of two communication satellites and the retrieval of two disabled satellites. !
Sitting in front: Commander Frederick (Rick) Hauck, DOB: 4/11/41, Background: Capt., USN. Piloted STS-7. Commanded STS-26. Education: B.S. in physics, M.S. in nuclear engineering.
Standing left: Pilot David M. Walker, DOB: 5/20/44, Background: Capt., USN. Commander of STS-30 and STS-53. Education: B.S. degree from U.S. Naval Academy.
Back row, left to right: Mission Specialist Dale Gardner, DOB: 11/8/48, Background: Capt., USN. Flew on STS-8. Education: B.S. in engineering physics.
Mission Specialist Anna Fisher, DOB: 8/24/49, Background: Assisted in development of medical rescue procedures and the RMS arm. Education: B.S. in chemistry; doctorate of medicine.
Mission Specialist Joseph Allen, DOB: 6/27/37, Background: Selected by NASA in 1967, serving in various administrative roles. Flew on STS-5. Education: B.A. in math-physics; Ph.D. in physics.!
8 November 1984 7:15 a.m. EST
The first launch attempt scheduled for 7 November was scrubbed during the built-in hold at T-20 due to wind shears in the upper atmosphere.!