STS 51-F crewmembers depart the Kennedy Space Center's operations and checkout building on their way to the launch pad for the launch of the Discovery. Leading the way are Gordon Fullerton, commander; Loren Acton, payload specialist, and Anthony England, mission specialist. The other crewmembers are not visible in this frame.

The crewmembers of Space Shuttle mission 51-F have chosen as their insignia this design by Houston artist Skip Bradley. The Space Shuttle Challenger is depicted ascending toward the heavens in search of new knowledge in the field of solar and steallar astronomy, with its Spacelab 2 payload. The constellations Leo and Orion are in the positions they will be in, relative to the sun during the flight. The nineteen stars signify that this will be the 19th STS flight.

S85-36655 (24 June 1985) --- The seven crewmembers for STS 51-F/Spacelab 2 pose for photographers following their pre-flight press conference in the Johnson Space Center's public affairs facility. Standing, l.-r., are Karl J. Henize, mission specialist; Roy D. Bridges, pilot; C. Gordon Fullerton, mission commander; F. Story Musgrave, mission specialist; John-David Bartoe, payload specialist; and Anthony W. England, mission specialist. Loren W. Acton, payload specialist, is seated. Launch is scheduled for July of this year.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- STS-51-F: Challenger

Portrait of STS 51-F Spacelab backup payload specialist George Simon, in blue flight suit

51F-S-038 (29 July 1985) ---An air-to-air view of the Space Shuttle orbiter Challenger, its two solid rocket boosters and external fuel tank moments after launch from Pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center (KSC). Astronaut John W. Young, veteran of two Shuttle flights and four other NASA missions, took the photograph with a handheld camera while piloting the Shuttle training aircraft. Launch occured at 5:00:00:423 p.m. (EDT), July 29, 1985.

51F-S-061 (29 July 1985) --- The 19th Space Shuttle mission gets off to a beginning as the Challenger soars toward earth orbit where it is scheduled to spend a week for a series of mostly scientific tasks. Challenger carries seven crewmembers and Spacelab 2 science pallets. A number of photographers record the event on camera. Launch occurred at 5:00 p.m. (EDT), July 29, 1985. The photo was taken by Otis Imboden.

51F-S-068 (29 July 1985) --- The Space Shuttle Challenger heads toward Earth-orbit with the Spacelab-2 experiment pallet and a team of astronauts and scientists onboard. This photograph was taken by Otis Imboden of the National Geographic Society for NASA from the press site at Kennedy Space Center (KSC).

51F-S-157 (29 July 1985) --- Just moments following ignition, the Space Shuttle Challenger, mated to its two solid rocket boosters and an external fuel tank, soars toward a week-long mission in Earth orbit. Note the diamond shock effect in the vicinity of the three main engines. Launch occurred at 5:00 p.m. (EDT), July 29, 1985.

S85-34378 (4 June 1985) --- Payload specialists John-David Bartoe, left, and Loren W. Acton listen to a briefing by a crew trainer (out of frame) during emergency egress training for members of the Challenger's next crew. Later, the seven crewmembers used sky-genies to practice quick egress from a potentially troubled Space Shuttle craft. They are standing near the crew compartment trainer in the Shuttle mockup and integration lab at JSC.

S93-31929 (24 March 1993) --- The three mission specialists for NASA's STS-51 mission watch as a crewmate (out of frame) simulates a parachute jump into water during emergency bailout training exercises at the Johnson Space Center's Weightless Environment Training Facility (WET-F). Left to right are astronauts Daniel W. Bursch, Carl E. Walz and James H. Newman. Out of frame are astronauts Frank L. Culbertson and William F. Readdy, commander and pilot, respectively.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The Space Shuttle Discovery makes a smooth landing on the runway at Edwards Air Force Base to complete a highly successful five-day mission. It was an Earth-orbital flight during which the Hubble Space Telescope was sent toward its 15-year mission. Landing was completed at 6:51 a.m. (PDT), April 29, 1990. Inside the spacecraft for STS-31 were Astronauts Loren J. Shriver, Charles F. Bolden, Bruce McCandless II, Kathryn D. Sullivan and Steven A. Hawley.

STS051-S-109 (12 Sept 1993) --- Inside the White Room, three astronaut crew members for the STS-51 flight await their queues to ingress the Space Shuttle Discovery. Wearing the partial pressure launch and entry suits are, left to right, Carl E. Walz, mission specialist; Frank L. Culbertson Jr., mission commander; and William F. Readdy, pilot. Not pictured are astronauts James H. Newman and Daniel W. Bursch. Launch occurred at 7:45 a.m. (EDT), September 12, 1993.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The Space Shuttle Discovery soars into the morning skies above Florida, carying a crew of five and the Hubble Space Telescope. Launch of Space Shuttle Mission STS-31from Pad 39B occurred at 8:33:51 a.m. EDT, April 24. Crew members are Commander Loren J. Shriver; Pilot Charles F. Bolden Jr.; and Mission Specialists Kathryn D. Sullivan, Steven A. Hawley, and Bruce McCandless II.

STS051-S-002 (June 1993) --- These five NASA astronauts have been assigned to fly aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery for the STS-51 mission, scheduled for July, 1993. Left to right are astronauts Frank L. Culbertson, Jr., mission commander; Daniel W. Bursch and Carl E. Walz, mission specialists; William F. Readdy, pilot; and James H. Newman, mission specialist.

51I-17-029 (Aug-Sept 1985) --- A group portrait, recorded by a pre-set 35mm camera, shows all five STS- 51-I crewmembers on the flight deck of the Earth-orbiting Discovery in early September 1985, following the successful Syncom repair performed by the crewmembers. Left to right are Astronauts James D. van Hoften, William F. Fisher, Joe H. Engle, Richard O. Covey and John M. (Mike) Lounge.

S93-31928 (24 March 1993) --- Astronaut Carl E. Walz, mission specialist, navigates a one-person life raft during emergency bailout training exercises at the Johnson Space Center's Weightless Environment Training Facility (WET-F). Walz was joined in the training session by the four other NASA astronauts assigned to the STS-51 flight.

STS051-66-009 (16 Sept 1993) --- In Discovery's airlock, astronaut William F. Readdy, pilot, holds up a STS-51 slogan -- "Ace HST Tool Testers" -- for still and video cameras to record. Readdy is flanked by astronauts Carl E. Walz (left) and James H. Newman, who had just shared a lengthy period of extravehicular activity (EVA) in and around Discovery's cargo bay. Not pictured are astronauts Frank L. Culbertson Jr., mission commander, and Daniel W. Bursch, mission specialist.

51F-S-162 (6 Aug 1985) ---Mission Operations Director George W.S. Abbey, right, shakes hands with Astronaut C. Gordon Fullerton, as the seven-member 51F crew descends from its "home" for eight days. Other Challenger crewmembers egressing the spacecraft are, left to right, F. Story Musgrave, mission specialist; John-David Bartoe, payload specialist; Roy D. Bridges, Jr., Karl J. Henize, mission specialist; Loren W. Acton, payload specialist; and Anthony W. England, mission specicalist. Fullerton, commander, earlier successfully landed Challenger on a Mojave desert dry lake bed. Three years ago, Fullerton was pilot of STS-3, on which the Columbia's scheduled Edwards landing was moved to New Mexico because of weather and runway conditions here.

51F-S-160 (6 Aug 1985) --- The Space Shuttle Challenger is moments away from touchdown on the dry lake bed at Edwards Air Force Base in California in this ground-level view. The early afternoon landing brought to a successful close eight days in space for seven crewmembers and a battery of scientific experiments aboard.

51F-S-161 (6 Aug 1985) --- The Space Shuttle Challenger, with its seven member crew and battery of scientific experiments aboard, eases its rear landing gear onto the dry lake bed at Edwards Air Force Base in California. Onboard for the eight-day mission were C. Gordon Fullerton, Roy D. Bridges Jr., F. Story Musgrave, Karl J. Henize, Anthony W. England, Loren W. Acton and John-David Bartoe.

DRYDEN FLIGHT RESEARCH FACILITY, EDWARDS, CALIF. -- STS-31 POST-LANDING CREW PORTRAIT -- The astronauts of STS-31 pose for a quick photo near the Space Shuttle Discovery following a smooth landing on the runway at Edwards Air Force Base to complete a highly successful five day mission. Picture, left to right, are Astronauts Steven A. Hawley, Charles F. Bolden Jr., Kathryn D. Sullivan, Loren J. Shriver, and Bruce McCandless II. Theirs was an Earth-orbital flight during which the Hubble Space Telescope was sent toward its 15-year mission. Landing was completed at 6:51 a.m. (PDT), April 29, 1990.

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.

STS031-S-135 (29 April 1990) --- The Space Shuttle Discovery makes a smooth landing on the runway at Edwards Air Force Base to complete a highly successful five-day mission. It was an Earth orbital flight during which the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) was sent toward its 15-year mission. Landing was completed at 6:51 a.m. (PDT), April 29, 1990. Inside the spacecraft for STS-31 were Astronauts Loren J. Shriver, Charles F. Bolden, Bruce McCandless II, Kathryn D. Sullivan and Steven A. Hawley.

The STS-51 crew portrait features (left to right): Frank L. Culbertson, commander; Daniel W. Bursch, mission specialist; Carl E. Walz, mission specialist; William F. Readdy, pilot; and James H. Newman, mission specialist. The crew of five launched aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery on September 12, 1993 at 7:45:00 am (EDT). Two primary payloads included the Advanced Communications Technology Satellite (ACTS), and the Orbiting and Retrievable Far and Extreme Ultraviolet Spectrograph Shuttle Pallet Satellite (OERFEUS-SPAS).

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- During the World Space Expo held at NASA's Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, veteran astronauts pose with current and future VIPs of the Space Program: from left, Mercury astronaut Scott Carpenter; Brig. Gen. Susan J. Helms, Commander of the 45th Space Wing at Patrick Air Force Base and former shuttle astronaut; Mercury astronaut John Glenn, who also flew on space shuttle Discovery for STS-95 in 1998; Kennedy Space Center Director Bill Parsons; and NASA Associate Administrator Chris Scolese. The astronauts were part of the World Space Expo, an event to commemorate humanity's first 50 years in space while looking forward to returning people to the moon and exploring beyond. The expo showcased various panels, presentations and educational programs, as well as an aerial salute featuring the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor, U.S. Navy F-18 Super Hornet, U.S. Air Force F-15 Eagle, the P-51 Mustang Heritage Flight, and the U.S. Air Force 920th Rescue Wing, which was responsible for Mercury and Gemini capsule recovery. The U.S. Army Golden Knights also demonstrated precision skydiving. Photo credit: NASA/George Shelton

51B-S-052 (20 April 1985) --- The STS 51-B Spacelab 3 mission begins with the liftoff of the Challenger from Pad 39A at 12:02 p.m. (EDT). The Spacelab-3 configuration consists of a long module and a Mission Experiment Support Structure (MPESS). The object of the mission is to conduct applications, science and technology-oriented experimentation requiring the low-gravity of Earth orbit and extended duration stable vehicle attitude. Mission emphasis will be on materials processing. The seven-member crew consists of astronauts Robert F Overmyer, commander; Frederick D. Gregory, pilot; Don L. Lind, Norman E. Thagard and William E. Thornton; all mission specialists and payload specialists Taylor G. Wang and Lodewijk van den Berg. The mission is planned for 7 days with a landing at Dryden Flight Research Facility, Edwards California scheduled for May 6.

STS031-S-131 (29 April 1990) --- Low angle view of the Space Shuttle Discovery as it approaches for landing on a concrete runway at Edwards Air Force Base to complete a highly successful five-day mission. It was a long awaited Earth orbital flight during which the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) was sent toward its 15-year mission. Discovery's wheels came to a complete stop at 6:51:00 a.m. (PDT), April 29, 1990. The landing gear was deployed just moments after this frame was exposed. Inside the spacecraft for STS-31 were astronauts Loren J. Shriver, Charles F. Bolden, Bruce McCandless II, Kathryn D. Sullivan and Steven A. Hawley.