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On Jan. 24, 1985, space shuttle Discovery took off from NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida on STS-51C, the first space shuttle mission entirely dedicated to the Department of Defense (DOD). As such, many of the details of the flight remain classified. Discovery\u2019s crew of Commander Thomas \u201cT.K.\u201d Mattingly<\/a>, Pilot Loren Shriver<\/a>, Mission Specialists Ellison Onizuka<\/a> and James Buchli<\/a>, and Payload Specialist Gary Payton<\/a> deployed a classified satellite that used an Inertial Upper Stage (IUS) to reach its final geostationary orbit. The three-day mission ended with a landing at KSC. Postflight inspection of the Solid Rocket Boosters (SRBs) revealed the most significant erosion of O-ring seals seen in the shuttle program up to that time, attributed to unusually cold weather before and during launch.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/sts-51c-1-crew-photo-s84-43708.jpg?w=1024\")
<\/figure>The STS-51C crew of Pilot Loren Shriver, seated left, and Commander Thomas \u201cT.K.\u201d Mattingly; Payload Specialist Gary Payton, standing left, and Mission Specialists James Buchli and Ellison Onizuka.<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/sts-51c-2-crew-patch-s84-42223.jpg?w=1024\")
<\/figure>The STS-51C crew patch.<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t