In this photograph the SYNCOM IV-3, also known as LEASAT 3, satellite moves away from the Space Shuttle Orbiter Discovery. SYNCOM (Hughes Geosynchronous Communication Satellite) provides communication services from geosynchronous orbit, principally to the U.S. Government. The satellite was launched on April 12, 1985, aboard the Space Shuttle Orbiter Discovery.

51D-31-081 (13 April 1985) --- 70mm view of the Syncom IV (LEASAT) communications satellite as it spins, frisbee fashion, from the cargo bay of the Earth orbiting Space Shuttle Discovery.

View of the Syncom-IV (LEASAT) satellite from the flight deck window taken by Astronaut S. David Griggs.

51D-32-013 (12 April 1985) --- A view of the Syncom IV (LEASAT) framed against a cloudy earth's surface after its deployment from the shuttle Discovery.

The TELESAT-1, also known as ANIK C-1, satellite is being released from the cargo bay of the Space Shuttle Orbiter Discovery during STS-51D, the 16th Shuttle mission. TELESAT-1 is a communication satellite built for Telesat Canada to provide voice and TV coverage of the Earth stations to trans-Canada network. Also shows in this photograph is an anterna for SYNCOM IV-3, also known as LEASAT-3, folded in a stowage. The SYNCOM is the Hughes Geosynchronous Communication Satellite and provides communication services from geosynchronous orbits principally to the U.S. Government. Both satellites were launched on April 12, 1985, aboard the Space Shuttle Orbiter Discovery.

Flight controllers in the JSC mission control center watch television transmissions of Discovery's rendezvous activities with the Syncom-IV (LEASAT) satellite and follow new data on their individual consoles.

41D-32-067 (31 Aug 1984) --- The Atlantic Oceans coastline of Angola forms the backdrop for this scene of the Syncom IV (Leasat-2) spacecraft as it and the Space Shuttle Discovery begin their relative separation on Day Two of a busy-six-day 41-D mission. Moments, earlier in a Frisbee-like fashion, the spacecraft departed the Discovery’s cargo bay, marking the second of three scheduled satellite placements for the spacecraft’s maiden voyage. The scene was photographed with a 70mm camera aimed through the aft windows on the flight deck.

Astronaut Sherwood Springer prepares for an underwater test at Weightless Environment Training Facility (WETF) in response to the discovery of problems with the 04/13 deployed Syncom IV (LEASAT) communications satellite. Activities, Bldg. 29, WETF for the STS-23/51D Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Simulation for Syncom IV, 04/14/1985. 1. Shuttle - Simulation (SYNCOM IV) 2. Astronaut Jerry L. Ross - Simulation (SYNCOM) 3. Astronaut Sherwood C. Spring - Simulation (SYNCOM IV) JSC, Houston, TX

41D-02-020 (31 Aug 1984) --- The Syncom IV (Leasat-2) spacecraft stands out against white clouds above the Atlantic Ocean moments after departing the Discovery's cargo bay in a frisbee-like manner. The Syncom's deployment marked the second of three scheduled satellite placements for the six member crew of the six-day 41-D flight. A later frame (41D-32-067) shows the spacecraft after a slender antenna had been deployed.

S85-30800 (14 April 1985) --- Astronaut Bruce McCandless II tests one of the possible methods of attempting to activate a switch on the Syncom-IV (LEASAT) satellite released April 13 into space from the Space Shuttle Discovery. The communications spacecraft failed to behave properly upon release and NASA officials and satellite experts are considering possible means of repair. McCandless was using a full scale mockup of the satellite in the Johnson Space Center's (JSC) mockup and integration laboratory.

The crew assigned to the STS-41D mission included (seated left to right) Richard M. (Mike) Mullane, mission specialist; Steven A. Hawley, mission specialist; Henry W. Hartsfield, commander; and Michael L. (Mike) Coats, pilot. Standing in the rear are Charles D. Walker, payload specialist; and Judith A. (Judy) Resnik, mission specialist. Launched aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery August 30, 1984 at 8:41:50 am (EDT), the STS-41D mission deployed three satellites: the Satellite Business System SBS-D; the SYCOM IV-2 (also known as LEASAT-2); and the TELSTAR.

The crew assigned to the STS-51D mission included (front left to right) Karol J. Bobko, commander; Donald E. Williams, pilot; M. Rhea Seddon, mission specialist; and Jeffrey A. Hoffman, mission specialist. On the back row, left to right, are S. David Griggs, mission specialist; and payload specialists Charles D. Walker, and E. Jake Garn (Republican Utah Senator). Launched aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery on April 12, 1985 at 8:59:05 am (EST), the STS-51D mission’s primary payloads were the TELESAT-1 (ANIK-C) communications satellite and the SYNCOM IV-3 (also known as LEASAT-3).

The crew assigned to the STS-51A mission included Frederick H. Hauck, commander,who is seated to the right. Standing, left to right, are Dale A. Gardner, mission specialist; David M. Walker, pilot; and mission specialists Anna L. Fisher, and Joseph P. Allen. Launched aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery on November 8, 1984 at 7:15:00 am (EST), the STS-51A mission deployed the Canadian communications satellite TELLESAT-H (ANIK), and the defense communications satellite SYCOM IV-1 (also known as LEASAT-1). In addition, 2 malfunctioning satellites were retrieved: the PALAPA-B2 and the WESTAR-VI.

STS032-87-030 (10 Jan 1990) --- The Syncom IV-5 communications satellite leaves the cargo bay of Columbia, as crewmembers aboard the record-setting Space Shuttle successfully complete the first of two major tasks for STS-32. Two days later, the five astronauts successfully captured the Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF). The Syncom satellite, also called Leasat, is to be leased to the U.S. Navy by Hughes Aircraft Co. The crew went on to spend 11 days aboard Columbia before a successful landing at Edwards Air Force Base.

51I-44-012 (1 Sept. 1985) --- Astronaut James D. van Hoften looks on as the Syncom IVC-3 satellite responds to his push against it moments earlier. Dr. van Hoften, mission specialist, is anchored to a foot restraint on the end of the remote manipulator system (RMS) arm of the Earth-orbiting space shuttle Discovery. The 51-I crew members showed this photograph at their Sept. 11 postflight press conference. Photo credit: NASA

51D-44-046 (17 April 1985) --- The Space Shuttle Discovery's Remote Manipulator System (RMS) arm and two specially designed extensions move toward the troubled Syncom-IV (LEASAT) communications satellite during a station keeping mode of the two spacecraft in Earth orbit. Inside the Shuttle's cabin, astronaut Rhea Seddon, 51D mission specialist, controlled the Canadian-built arm in an attempt to move an external lever on the satellite. Crewmembers learned of the satellite's problems shortly after it was deployed from the cargo bay on April 13, 1985. The arm achieved physical contact with the lever as planned. However, the satellite did not respond to the contact as hoped. A 70mm handheld Hassellblad camera, aimed through Discovery's windows, recorded this frame -- one of the first to be released to news media following return of the seven-member crew on April 17, 1985.

S87-49426 (1987) --- The Hubble Space Telescope (HST) tool box provides stowage of individual tools, tool boards and tool caddies required for maintenance of the telescope. The basic box design was revised from the LEASAT (U.S. Navy) equipment stowage container. It can be mounted to a base plate or back plate depending on the mission location requirements. A four-point latching system secured with pip pins is used to latch the tool box doors for launch. Various other latches are designed into the door panels and tool mounting locations for tool retention. The box consists of aluminum sides and base, a dividing wall and deep doors. Along three sides there are handrails by which STS-61 extravehicular activity (EVA) crew members can translate themselves or brace themselves when stowing and unstowing equipment.

51D-04-015 (15 April 1985) --- Astronaut Rhea Seddon and Karol J. Bobko continue work on snag-type extension for the Remote Manipulator System (RMS) as part of an effort to activate a lever on a troubled communications satellite. Since the crew learned soon after deployment of the Syncom IV (LEASAT) spacecraft that it was not functioning properly plans were formulated for a rendezvous in space between the Discovery and the satellite. A fly swatter-like extension and another resembling a LaCrosse stick were fashioned from onboard supplies and furnishings. Stowage lockers nearby serve as a work bench for the two. At various times during the seven-day mission, the majority of the seven-member crew participated in the tool-making and preparations for an extravehicular activity (EVA) by the flights other two mission specialists -- Jeffrey A. Hoffman and S. David Griggs -- to connect the two tools to the RMS. Bobko is mission commander and Dr. Seddon, a mission specialist.

S86-41700 (19 May 1984) --- The Space Shuttle Discovery moves towards Pad A on the crawler transporter for its maiden flight. Discovery will be launched on its first mission no earlier than June 19, 1984. Flight 41-D will carry a crew of six; Commander Henry Hartsfield, Pilot Mike Coats, Mission Specialists Dr. Judith Resnik, Dr. Steven Hawley and Richard Mullane and Payload Specialist Charles Walker. Walker is the first payload specialist to fly aboard a space shuttle. He will be running the materials processing device developed by McDonnell Douglas as part of its Electrophoresis Operations in Space project. Mission 41-D is scheduled to be a seven-day flight and to land at Edwards Air Force Base in California. The Syncom IV-1 (LEASAT) will be deployed from Discovery's cargo bay and the OAST-1, Large Format Camera, IMAX and Cinema 360 cameras will be aboard.

S85-30878 (15 April 1985) --- Astronaut Jerry L. Ross, left, and Astronaut candidate Mark C. Lee rehearse the deployment of two specially designed flyswatter like tools on the end of the orbiter's remote manipulator system (RMS) arm. Their "dry" run of a planned Discovery STS 51-D extravehicular activity (EVA) is actually not so dry, since it is held in a 25 ft. deep pool, part of the Johnson Space Center's (JSC) weightless environment test facility (WET-F). Astronauts Jeffrey A. Hoffman and S. David Griggs, two 51-D mission specialists, have been assigned the task of April 16's EVA. A rendezvous with the troubled Syncom IV (LEASAT) satellite has been scheduled for the day after the EVA, and an attempt will be made by the arm to trip an important lever on the troubled communications satellite.