STS-61B Mission Patch

STS-61 -- B Mexican Satellite MORELOS-B; Australian Satellite AUSSAT-2; RCA Americom Satellite SATCOM KU-2 11/26/1985 12/03/1985 23rd Space Shuttle Mission 2nd Flight of Atlantis Crew: Brewster H. Shaw, Jr., Commander Bryan D. O'Connor, Pilot Mary L. Cleave, Mission Specialist Sherwood C. Spring, Mission Specialist Jerry L. Ross, Mission Specialist Rodolpho Neri Vela, Payload Specialist Charles D. Walker, Payload Specialist

Three communications satellites were deployed. These included MORELOS-B for Mexico, AUSSAT-2 for Australia and SATCOM-KU-2 for RCA Americom. MORELOS-B and AUSSAT-2 were attached to PAM-D solid rocket motors. SATCOM-KU-2 was attached to a PAM-D2 solid rocket motor, designed for heavier payloads.