Space Shuttle Projects

The crew assigned to the STS-61C mission included (seated left to right) Charles F. Bolden, Jr., pilot; and Robert L. (Hoot) Gibson, commander. On the back row, left to right, are payload specialists Robert J. Cenker, and Congressman Bill Nelson. To the right of Nelson are mission specialists Steven A. Hawley, George D. Nelson, and Franklin R. Chang-Diaz. Launched aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia on January 12, 1986 at 6:55:00 am (EST), the STS-61C mission’s primary payload was the communications satellite SATCOM KU-1 (RCA Americom).