STS-51C Mission Patch

15th Space Shuttle Mission

3rd Flight of Discovery

Crew:

Thomas K. Mattingly II, Commander

Loren J. Shriver, Pilot

James F. Buchli, Mission Specialist

Ellison S. Onizuka, Mission Specialist

Gary E. Payton, Payload Specialist

This was the first dedicated Department of Defense mission. Elements of the mission were kept secret. However, it was reported that a U.S. Air Force Inertial Upper Stage (IUS) booster successfully deployed a secret payload.