The Explorers' Club, № MLXXI

Operation AXIOM: The Space Age—The 40th Anniversary of S.T.S.-51-C, Part II
26-27 January 1985: Many mission details remain classified; Mattingly (U.S.N.), Shriver (U.S.A.F.), Onizuka (U.S.A.F.), Buchli (U.S.M.C.), & Payton (U.S.A.F.) were all active-duty military; Onizuka was the first Asian-American astronaut; the liftoff of S.T.S.-51-C was featured in the IMAX film The Dream Is Alive (1985); after just 49 orbits, the Discovery landed back at K.S.C.'s Shuttle Landing Facility.

Commentary: The support of the Department of Defense was necessary for N.A.S.A. to procure the Congressional funding to construct the technologically revolutionary Space Shuttle, & thus D.O.D. requirements significantly influenced the Orbiter's design, e.g., the dimensions of the Payload Bay & the huge delta wing. S.T.S.-51-C was the first of several classified D.O.D. Space Shuttle missions.

With Onizuka's flight on S.T.S.-51-C, every veteran member of the S.T.S.-51-L crew (the Challenger disaster) has flown.

Bonus! Space Age Song o' the Day: S.T.S.-51-C
MxPx, "Secret Weapon" from Secret Weapon (Space Cadet Mike Papa Whiskey)

Semper exploro.