This was the fourth mission totally dedicated to the Department of Defense, and the first flight of Columbia since mission 61-C, Jan 12, 1986. Payload information was classified.!
Front row, left to right: Pilot Richard Richards, DOB: 8/24/46, Background: Capt., USN. Commander of STS-41 and STS-50. Education: B.S. in chemical engineering; M.S. in aeronautical systems.
Commander Brewster Shaw, Jr., DOB: 5/16/45, Background: Col., USAF. Pilot of STS-9. Commander on 61-B. Education: M.S. in engineering mechanics.
Mission Specialist David Leestma, DOB: 5/6/49, Background: Capt., USN. Mission specialist on 41-G and STS-45. Education: M.S. in aeronautical engineering.
Back row, left to right: Mission Specialist Mark Brown, DOB: 11/18/51, Background: Col., USAF. Flight Activities Officer for NASA. Mission specialist on STS-48. Education: B.S. in aeronautical engineering; M.S. in astronautical engineering.
Mission Specialist James Adamson, DOB: 3/3/46, Background: Col., U.S. Army. Test pilot. Worked for NASA Mission Control. Mission specialist on STS-43. Education: B.S. in engineering; M.S. in aerospace engineering.!
8 August 1989 8:37 a.m. EDT
Launch proceeded as scheduled with no major delays.!
