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

It was the first shuttle operational mission and the first mission with a crew of four including mission specialists.

Deploying of communications satellites SBS-C (USA) and Telesat/Anik C-3 (Canada). A planned EVA by Allen and Lenoir was first delayed, because the astronauts suffered on the space adaption syndrome and was then cancelled because of space-suit problems. Several student experiments were performed. A German materials science experiment failed due to a battery mailfunction.