The payload on this flight consisted of Spacelab 3, the first operational flight for the orbital laboratory. The mission's main objective was to provide a quality microgravity environment for delicate materials processing and fluid experiments. Two Getaway Specials were flown, but one did not deploy and was returned to Earth.!
Front row, left to right: Commander Robert Overmyer, DOB: 7/14/36, Background: Col., USMC. Pilot of STS-5. Education: M.S. in aeronautics.
Pilot Frederick Gregory, DOB: 1/7/41, Background: Col., USAF. Commanded STS-33 and STS-44. Education: M.S. in information systems.
Back row, left to right: Mission Specialist Don Lind, DOB: 5/18/30, Background: Space flight researcher. Education: Ph.D. in nuclear physics.
Payload Specialist Taylor Wang, Born:1941, Background: Physicist at Jet Propulsion Lab. Education: Ph.D. in physics.
Mission Specialist Norman Thagard, DOB: 7/3/43, Background: Flew on STS-7, -30 and -42. Education: M.S. in engineering science; doctorate of medicine.
Mission Specialist William Thornton, DOB: 4/14/29, Background: Developed crew exercises and equipment. Flew on STS-8. Education: B.S. in physics and doctorate of medicine.
Payload Specialist Lodwijk van den Berg, Born:1932, Background: Chemical engineer. Education: Ph.D. in applied science.!
29 April 1985 12:02 p.m. EDT
Launch was delayed for 2 minutes and 18 seconds due to a launch processing system failure.!
