Launch from Cape Canaveral (KSC); landing on Edwards AFB.

This mission was the second testflight of the Space Shuttle. A first launch attempt had to be delayed due of technical problems and bad weather.

Columbia carried out several scientific experiments including tests with the "Shuttle Imaging Radar" and of the 50-foot remote manipulator arm in space. The planned five day mission was cut, because fuel cell number one failed (producing eletricity and drinking water). 90 % of mission objectives were achieved. Good results of the OSTA-1 (Office of Space and Terrestical Applications-1) Earth observation experiment, which was mounted in the Spacelab pallet in the payload bay, were brought back to the Earth.