 

AKA: Atlantis. Launched: 1985-10-03. Returned: 1985-10-07. Number crew: 5 . Duration: 4.07 days.
Orbits of Earth: 63. Landed at: Runway 23 dry lake bed at Edwards Air Force Base, . Touchdown miss distance: 754.00 m. Landing Rollout: 2,455.00 m. Payloads: Classified DoD Mission - Record altitude (as of 5/93).
NASA Official Mission Narrative
Mission Name: 51-J (21)
  Atlantis (1)
  Pad 39-A (33)
  21st Shuttle mission
  1st Flight OV-104  
Crew:
  Karol J. Bobko (3), Commander
  Ronald J. Grabe (1), Pilot
  David C. Hilmers (1), Mission Specialist 1
  Robert L. Stewart (2), Mission Specialist 2
  William A. Pailes (1), Payload Specialist 1  
Milestones:
  OPF - April 14, 1985
  VAB - May 10, 1985
  (storage)
  OPF - May 28, 1985
  VAB - July 18, 1985
  (storage)
  OPF - July 30, 1985
  VAB - Aug. 12, 1985
  PAD - Aug. 30, 1985  
Payload:
  DoD(2)  
Mission Objectives:  
Launch:
  October 3, 1985, 11:15:30 am EDT. Launch delayed 22 minutes, 30 seconds due to main engine liquid hydrogen prevalve close remote power controller showing faulty 'on' indication. Launch Weight: Classified.  
Orbit:
  Altitude: 319nm
  Inclination: 28.5 degrees
  Orbits: 64
  Duration:  4 days, 1 hour, 44 minutes, 38 seconds.
  Distance:  1,725,000 miles  
Hardware:
  SRB: BI-021
  SRM: L021(HPM)
  ET : 25/LWT-18
  MLP : 2
  SSME-1: SN-2011
  SSME-2: SN-2019
  SSME-3: SN-2017  
Landing:
  October 7,1985,10:00:08 a.m. PDT, Runway 23, Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.  Rollout distance: 8,056 feet. Rollout time: 65 seconds.  Orbiter returned to  KSC Oct. 11,1985. Landing Weight: 190,400 lbs.  
Mission Highlights:
  Second mission dedicated to Department of Defense.
|  | STS-51-J Lift-off of first flight of Atlantis and the STS 51-J mission Credit: NASA | 
|  | STS-51-J Landing of the Shuttle Atlantis and the end of the STS 51-J mission Credit: NASA | 
|  | STS-51-J Landing of the Shuttle Atlantis and the end of the STS 51-J mission Credit: NASA | 
Manned five crew. Atlantis (first flight); deployed USA 11, USA 12. Reusable space transportation system.
Orbits of Earth: 63. Landed at: Runway 23 dry lake bed at Edwards Air Force Base, . Touchdown miss distance: 754.00 m. Landing Rollout: 2,455.00 m. Payloads: Classified DoD Mission - Record altitude (as of 5/93).