The primary payload, the fourth Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS-5), was successfully deployed on this mission. Among various secondary payloads were experiments in auroral photography, protein crystal growth, polymer membrane processing, space acceleration studies, and the Air Force Maui Optical Site experiment.!
Left to right: Mission Specialist Shannon Lucid, DOB: 1/14/43, Background: Selected by NASA in 1978. Mission specialist on 51-G and STS-34. Education: B.S. in chemistry; Ph.D. in biochemistry.
Mission Specialist James Adamson, DOB: 3/3/46, Background: Col., U.S. Army. Test pilot. Worked for NASA in Mission Control. Mission specialist on STS-28. Education: B.S. in engineering; M.S. in aerospace engineering.
Commander John Blaha, DOB: 8/26/42, Background: Col., USAF. Test and instructor pilot. Pilot of STS-29, and STS-33. Education: B.S. in engineering science; M.S. in astronautical engineering.
Mission Specialist G. David Low, DOB: 2/19/56, Background: Mission specialist on STS-32. Education: B.S. degrees in physics and mechanical engineering; M.S. in aeronautics and astronautics.
Pilot Michael Baker, DOB: 10/27/53, Background: Capt., USN. Pilot of STS-52. Education: B.S. in aerospace engineering.!
2 August 1991 11:02 a.m. EDT
Launch was originally set for 23 July but moved to 24 July, then postponed five hours due to a faulty main engine controller. After being replaced and retested launch was reset for 1 August. Liftoff was postponed due to unacceptable weather conditions and reset for 2 August.!
11 August 1991 8:23 a.m. EDT
at Kennedy Space Center, FL
Mission Elapsed time: 8 days, 21 hours, 21 minutes, 25 seconds. Completed 142 orbits. This was the first scheduled landing at KSC since 61-C, the 24th mission.!
