Launch from Cape Canaveral (
KSC); landing on
Edwards
AFB.
First
mission of orbiter "Discovery". Planned launch was delayed twice because of a
variety of technical problems, including rollback to the
VAB to replace
a main engine.
Deploying of communications satellites
SBS-D (USA),
Telstar 3-C (USA) and Syncom IV-2/Leasat 2 (US Navy); solar wing (31 m) was
extended from payload bay. The wing carried a number of different types of
experimental solar cells and was extended to its full height several times. It
was the largest structure ever extended from a manned spacecraft and
demonstrated the feasibility of large lightweight solar arrays for future
application to large facilities in space such as the Space Station.
Walker was the first commercially sponsored payload
specialist to fly aboard the Shuttle. He worked on the Continuous Flow
Electrophoresis System .