STS-51-J

Name: Space Shuttle Atlantis / OV-104 | STS-51-J
Start: 1985-10-03T15:15:00+00:00
End: 1985-10-03T16:15:00+00:00
Location: Launch Complex 39A

Space Shuttle Atlantis / OV-104

Lockheed Space Operations Company

Launch Status

Success

Thu • Oct 3rd, 1985
3:15 PM UTC

Crew

Karol J. Bobko

Status: Deceased
12/23/1937 - 8/17/2023
Nationality: American
Type: Government
First Flight: 4/4/1983
Last Flight: 10/3/1985

Karol Joseph "Bo" Bobko is an American aerospace engineer, retired U.S. Air Force officer, test pilot, and a former USAF and NASA astronaut.

Ronald J. Grabe

Status: Retired
6/13/1945 -
Nationality: American
Type: Government
First Flight: 10/3/1985
Last Flight: 6/21/1993

Ronald John Grabe is a former NASA astronaut.

He has earned the Air Force Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with 7 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal, the Liethen-Tittle Award (for Outstanding Student at the USAF Test Pilot School), the Royal Air Force Cross, the NASA Exceptional Service Medal, and NASA Space Flight Medals.

William A. Pailes

Status: Retired
6/26/1952 -
Nationality: American
Type: Payload Specialist
First Flight: 10/3/1985
Last Flight: 10/3/1985

William Arthur Pailes (Colonel, USAF) (born June 26, 1952) was a USAF astronaut in the Manned Spaceflight Engineer Program during the mid-1980s. He served as a Payload Specialist on STS-51-J Atlantis (October 3–7, 1985).

Robert L. Stewart

Status: Retired
5/10/1942 -
Nationality: American
Type: Government
First Flight: 2/3/1984
Last Flight: 10/3/1985

Robert Lee Stewart is a retired brigadier general of the United States Army and a former NASA astronaut.

David Hilmers

Status: Retired
1/28/1950 -
Nationality: American
Type: Government
First Flight: 10/3/1985
Last Flight: 1/22/1992

David Carl Hilmers is a former NASA astronaut. Hilmers was selected a NASA astronaut in July 1980, and completed the initial training period in August 1981. A veteran of four space flights, he has logged over 493 hours in space.

Mission

STS-51-J

Type: Government/Top Secret

STS-51-J was the twenty-first space shuttle mission and the maiden flight of the Space Shuttle Atlantis. It was the second mission dedicated to deploying a Department of Defence payload. It was a classified mission however we do know that it deployed two 10 satellites.