This mission carried the first Atmospheric Laboratory for Applications and Science (ATLAS-1), a non-deployable payload mounted on pallets in the cargo bay. Using instruments from seven countries, studies were conducted in atmospheric chemistry, solar radiation, space plasma physics and ultraviolet astronomy. Other payloads included various mid-deck experiments.!
Front row, left to right: Pilot Brian Duffy, DOB: 6/20/53, Bkgrnd: Lt. Col., USAF. Flight test director. Education: M.S. in systems management.
Commander Charles Bolden, Jr., DOB: 8/19/46, Bkgrnd: Col., USMC. Pilot of 61-C and STS-31. Education: M.S. in systems management.
Back row, left to right: Payload Specialist Byron Lichtenberg, DOB: 2/19/48, Bkgrnd: Pilot and researcher. Flew on STS-9. Education: Ph.D in biomedical engineering.
Mission Specialist Michael Foale, DOB: 1/6/57, Bkgrnd: Mission Control payloads officer. Education: Ph.D. in laboratory astrophysics.
Mission Specialist David Leestma, DOB: 5/6/49, Bkgrnd: Capt., USN. Flew on 41-G and STS-28. Education: M.S. in aeronautical engineering.
Mission Specialist Kathryn Sullivan, DOB:10/3/51, Bkgrnd: Systems engineer. Flew on 41-G and STS-31. Education: Ph.D. in geology.
Payload Specialist Dirk Frimout, Born: 1941, Bkgrnd: European Space Agency astronaut. Education: Ph.D. in applied physics.!
24 March 1992 8:13 a.m. EST
Launch originally scheduled for 23 March was delayed one day due to higher than allowable concentrations in the orbiter's aft compartment during tanking.!
2 April 1992 6:23 a.m. EST
at Kennedy Space Center, FL
Mission Duration: 8 days, 22 hours, 9 minutes, 24 seconds. Mission extended one day to continue science experiments.!
