Launch from Cape Canaveral (KSC); landing in Cape Canaveral (KSC).

A launch attempt the day before was scrubbed at the T minus 20 minute built-in hold because of high shear winds in the upper atmosphere.

The crew deployed the communications satellites Anik D4 (Canada) on flight day 2 and Syncom IV-2/Leasat 2 (US Navy) on flight day 3.

EVAs by Joseph Allen and Dale Gardner on November 12, 1984 and November 14, 1984 (5h and 5h 43m respectively) were performed. The mail goals were retrieving of malfunctioning satellites Palapa B-2 (Indonesia) und Westar 6 (USA) (both deployed on Mission STS-41B), capturing each satellite with a device known as a "Stinger," which was inserted into the apogee motor nozzle to stop the rotation. Both satellites were carried back to Earth and later (under a new name) again deployed.

One experiment during this mission was the Diffused Mixing of Organic Solutions (DMOS) experiment. It was the first of a series of comprehensive organic and polymer science experiments sponsored by the 3M Corp. This middeck experiment was successful and the proprietary results of the chemical mixes were turned over to 3M. One other experiment, the radiation monitoring experiment, was also performed.