STS027-S-071 (2 Dec. 1988) --- The Space Shuttle Atlantis and its five-man crew of astronauts are launched from Kennedy Space Center?s Pad 39B at 9:30 a.m. (EST), Dec. 2, 1988. Onboard the Department of Defense?dedicated mission are astronauts Robert L. Gibson, Guy S. Gardner, Jerry L. Ross, Richard M. (Mike) Mullane and Williams M. Shepherd.