STS-38

STS-38 was a NASA Space Shuttle Atlantis mission dedicated to the U.S. Department of Defense. The flight launched from Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 39A on November 15, 1990, with Richard O. Covey commanding, Frank L. Culbertson Jr. piloting, and Charles D. Gemar, Robert C. Springer, and Carl J. Meade serving as mission specialists. Most payload details remained classified, but NASA identifies the mission as the seventh Shuttle mission dedicated to Department of Defense work. Atlantis reached orbit after a launch campaign delayed by leak checks, payload issues, and vehicle processing work, then completed 79 revolutions of Earth. The orbiter landed on Runway 33 at the Shuttle Landing Facility at Kennedy Space Center on November 20, 1990, after a mission lasting 4 days, 21 hours, and 54 minutes.