The Explorers' Club, № CMLXI

Operation AXIOM: The Space Age—The 40th Anniversary of S.T.S.-7, Part II
19-24 June 1983: Crippen, Hauck, Fabian, Ride, & Thagard deployed two communications satellites; deployed & recovered the Shuttle pallet satellite (S.P.A.S.-1), which photographed the Orbiter among other experiments; & conducted medical tests on space adaptation syndrome; additional payloads included seven Getaway Specials; after 97 orbits, the Challenger landed at California's Edwards.

Commentary: I am delighted that the crew maneuvered the Canadarm to form the numeral seven (above, the topmost photo), as seen on the S.T.S.-7 mission patch.

S.T.S.-7 was intended to be the first Orbiter landing at the new Shuttle Landing Facility at Kennedy Space Center, but unacceptable weather over Florida diverted the Challenger to reliable old Edwards.

Bonus! Space Age Song o' the Day: S.T.S.-7
Phantom Planet, "California" from The Guest (Space Cadet Mike Papa Whiskey)

Semper exploro.