Three communication satellites were successfully deployed on this mission. Also flown were six Getaway Special canisters, an experiment for the Strategic Defense Initiative, a materials processing furnace and two French biomedical experiments. Another payload, SPARTAN-1 (Shuttle Pointed Autonomous Research Tool for Astronomy), was also carried and deployed.!
Kneeling front, left to right: Commander Daniel Brandenstein, DOB: 1/17/43, Background: Capt., USN. Pilot on STS-8. Commander on STS-32 and STS-49. Education: B.S. in mathematics and physics.
Pilot John Creighton, DOB: 4/28/43, Background: Capt., USN. Commander of STS-36 and STS-48. Education: M.S. in science and technology.
Standing left to right: Mission Specialist Shannon Lucid, DOB: 1/14/43, Background: Flew on STS-34 and STS-43. Education: Ph.D. in biochemistry.
Mission Specialist Steven Nagel, DOB: 10/27/46, Background: Col., USAF. Pilot of 61-A. Commander of STS-37. Education: M.S. in mechanical engineering.
Mission Specialist John Fabian, DOB: 1/28/39, Background: Col., USAF. Flew on STS-7. Education: Ph.D. in aeronautics and astronautics.
Payload Specialist Sultan Salman Al-Saud, Born:1957, Background: Pilot. Education: B.A. in mass communications.
Payload Specialist Patrick Baudry, Born:1946, Background: Lt. Col., French Air Force. Education: M.S. in aeronautical engineering.!
