Guion S. Bluford became the first African-American to fly in space. A multipurpose satellite was deployed for India. The Orbiter was tested under extreme cold conditions, and an unexplained glow that surrounds the Orbiter at night was also investigated. Other experiments included biofeedback studies and observations on the behavior of rats in space.!
Front row, left to right: Pilot Daniel Brandenstein, DOB: 1/17/43, Background: Capt., USN. Served as chief of the Astronaut Office at JSC. Commander on 51-G, STS-32 and STS-49. Education: B.S. in mathematics and physics.
Commander Richard Truly, DOB: 11/12/37, Background: Capt., USN. Pilot for STS-2. Education: B.S. in aeronautical engineering.
Mission Specialist Guion Bluford Jr., DOB: 11/22/42, Background: Col., USAF. Selected by NASA in 1978. Served as mission specialist on 61-A, STS-39 and STS-53. Education: M.B.A.; Ph.D. in aerospace engineering
Back row, left to right: Mission Specialist Dale Gardner, DOB: 11/8/48, Background: Capt., USN. Flew as mission specialist on 51-A. Education: B.S. in engineering physics.
Mission Specialist William Thornton, DOB: 4/14/29, Background: Developed crew in-flight exercises and equipment. Flew on 51-B as mission specialist. Education: B.S. in physics; doctorate of medicine.!
30 August 1983 2:32 a.m EDT
Launch was delayed 17 minutes due to the weather.!
