FIRST LAUNCH OF SPACE SHUTTLE DISCOVERY

Space shuttle Discovery launched on its inaugural flight 35 years ago. On August 30, 1984, it lifted off from Launch Pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center, carrying six crew members to space: Commander Henry Hartsfield, Pilot Michael Coats, Mission Specialists Judith Resnick, Steven Hawley, Richard Mullane and Payload Specialist Charles Walker. The crew deployed three communications satellites to orbit during the mission.