STS-62

STS-62 was Columbia's March 1994 microgravity and technology mission carrying the U.S. Microgravity Payload-2 and Office of Aeronautics and Space Technology-2 payloads. John Casper commanded the flight, Andrew Allen served as pilot, and Pierre Thuot, Charles Gemar, and Marsha Ivins were mission specialists. USMP-2 operated five materials-processing and crystal-growth investigations, while OAST-2 tested six space-technology and spaceflight experiments; Columbia's orbit was later lowered to support the OAST-2 work. The crew also performed biomedical and middeck research. Columbia launched from Launch Complex 39B on March 4 and landed on Runway 33 at Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility on March 18 after nearly fourteen days in orbit.