This was the sixth mission totally dedicated to the Department of Defense. Mission objectives were classified.!
Left to right: Mission Specialist Pierre Thuot, DOB: 5/19/55, Background: Cmdr., USN. Mission specialist on STS-49. Education: B.S. in physics; M.S. in systems management.
Pilot John Casper, DOB: 7/9/43, Background: Col., USAF. Commander on STS-54. Education: B.S. in engineering science; M.S. in astronautics.
Commander John Creighton, DOB: 4/28/43, Background: Capt., USN. Pilot on 51-G. Commander of STS-48. Education: B.S. from U.S. Naval Academy; M.S. in administration of science and technology.
Mission Specialist Richard (Mike) Mullane, DOB: 10/10/45, Background: Col., USAF. Mission specialist on 41-D and STS-27. Education: B.S. in military engineering; M.S. in aeronautical engineering.
Mission Specialist David Hilmers, DOB: 1/28/50, Background: Col., USMC. Mission specialist on 51-J, STS-26 and STS-42. Education: B.S. in mathematics; M.S. in electrical engineering.!
28 February 1990 2:50 a.m. EST
Launch originally scheduled for 22 February was postponed to three different days because the crew commander was ill and the weather was poor.!
