Discovery (STS-51-D) launched 1985

STS-51-D crew

Front row (L-R): Karol Bobko, Donald Williams, Rhea Seddon, Jeffrey Hoffman

Last row (L-R): David Griggs, Charles Walker, Edwin Garn

Mission patch

Space Shuttle Discovery (STS-51-D), launched April 12, 1985, was the fourth flight of Discovery.  Its crew consisted of Commander Karol Bobko, Pilot Donald Williams, Rhea Seddon, David Griggs, Jeffrey Hoffman, Charles Walker, and Senator Edwin Garn of Utah.

Hoffman and Griggs conducted an EVA on April 16 for just over 3 hours.  Griggs also performed tricks with a yo-yo to see how "Toys in Space" reacted to microgravity.  He successfully comppleted the flying saucer and around-the-moon, but the sleeper trick did not work without normal gravity.

The crew returned to Earth April 19 and a tire blew out upon landing, causing extensive damage to the brakes.

Discovery's maiden voyage (STS-41-D) launched 1984

STS-41-D crew:

Front row (L-R): Richard Mullane, Steven Hawley, Henry Harsfield, Michael Coats

Back row (L-R): Charles Walker, Judith Resnik

Mission patch

Space Shuttle Discovery's maiden voyage (STS-41-D) was launched August 30, 1984. Its crew consisted of Commander Henry Harsfield, Pilot Michael Coats, Richard Mullane, Steven Hawley, Judith Resnik, and Charles Walker.

Resnik was the second US woman in space after Sally Ride.

They returned to Earth September 5.

Happy birthday, Space Shuttle astronaut Charles Walker!

Charles Walker, born August 29, 1948 in Bedford, Indiana, is a veteran of three space shuttle flights.

His first flight was aboard Discovery (STS-41-D) as payload specialist in August-September 1984.  He was an employee of McDonnell Douglas and was the first commercially sponsored payload specialist.

His second flight was back aboard Discovery (STS-51-D) as payload specialist in April 1985. He spent almost 7 days in space.

Walker's third and final flight was aboard Atlantis (STS-61-B) as payload specialist in November-December 1985.  A checkered flag was carried on board and is now on display at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum.

Atlantis (STS-61-B) launches 1985

Back row L-R: Charles Walker, Jerry Ross, Mary Cleave, Sherwood Spring, Rodolfo Neri Vela

Front row L-R: Bryan O'Connor, Brewster Shaw

Mission patch

Space Shuttle Atlantis blasted off November 26, 1985 from Kennedy Space Center for the 23rd mission of the shuttle program.  The takeoff came just 54 days after the launch of STS-51-J, the quickest turnaround between launches.  Her crew consisted of Commander Brewster Shaw, Pilot Bryan O'Connor, Mission Specialist 1 Jerry Ross, Mission Specialist 2 Mary Cleave, Mission Specialist 3 Sherwood Spring, Payload Specialist Charles Walker and Payload Specialist 2 Rodolfo Neri Vela.

Vela is the first Mexican astronaut in space.  Jerry Ross and Sherwood Spring performed two EVAs to demonstrate the feasibility of assembling large structures in space.

Atlantis returned to Earth December 3 at Edwards Air Force Base.