The Explorers' Club, № MLXX

Operation AXIOM: The Space Age—The 40th Anniversary of S.T.S.-51-C (№ 15), Part I
24-25 January 1985: The Space Shuttle Discovery OV-103 lifted off from Florida's K.S.C. with CDR Ken Mattingly, Pilot Loren Shriver, M.S.1 El Onizuka, M.S.2/F.E. Jim Buchli, & P.S.1 Gary Payton; the quintet deployed a classified Department of Defense satellite using an Inertial Upper Stage; "blow-by" damage to Solid Rocket Booster O-rings—both primary & secondary—was observed, the worst yet.

Commentary: S.T.S.-51-C was the third flight of the Discovery OV-103. S.T.S.-51-C was the one hundredth orbital human spaceflight.

Bonus! Space Age Song o' the Day: S.T.S.-51-C
Glenn Miller, "Shhh, It's a Military Secret" from Glenn Miller's 50 Finest (Space Cadet Mike Papa Whiskey)

Semper exploro.