The Explorers' Club, № CMXV

Operation AXIOM: The Space Age—The 40th Anniversary of S.T.S.-5, Part I
11 November 1982: The Space Shuttle Columbia OV-102 lifted off from Florida's Kennedy Space Center with CDR Vance Brand, Pilot Bob Overmyer, Mission Specialist 1 Joe Allen, & Mission Specialist 2 Bill Lenoir; this was the first "operational" flight of the Shuttle & carried the largest crew of any spaceflight yet, & they were the first American astronauts to launch not wearing pressure suits.

Commentary: This was the fifth flight of the Columbia OV-102, & the last time that the S.T.S. program flight number would match the individual Orbiter flight number.

Bonus! Space Age Song o' the Day: S.T.S.-5
The Dave Brubeck Quartet, "Take Five" from Time Out: 50th Anniversary Legacy Edition (Space Cadet Mike Papa Whiskey)

Semper exploro.