Launch from Cape Canaveral (KSC); landing on Cape Canaveral (KSC). The launch was originally scheduled for October 31, 1996, but was bumped back to November 19, 1996 for several reasons.

Mission ORFEUS-SPAS-02. The main component of the satellite, the ORFEUS telescope, had two spectrographs, for far and extreme ultraviolet. Another spectrograph, the Interstellar Medium Absorption Profile Spectrograph, was also on board the satellite.

Two planned EVA's by Jones and Jernigan were cancelled, because the airlock hatch couldn't be opened.

Deploying and retrieval of German built astronomy satellite ORFEUS-SPAS-02 and of the Wake Shield Facility (WSF 03). This satellite created an ultra-vacuum behind it, allowing for the creation of semiconductor thin films for use in advanced electronics. WSF created seven films before being recaptured by Columbia's robotic arm after three days of flight.

Several secondary experiments were carried out by the Columbia. It was the longest Shuttle mission to date. The landing was postponed two days due of bad weather at the landing site; Musgrave set a new record for being the oldest man in space. This record have since been surpassed.