Launch from Cape Canaveral (KSC); landing on Edwards AFB.

Launch was originally set for February 22, 1990, and was postponed for three times due to illness of the crew commander and weather conditions. This was the first time since Apollo 13 in 1970 that a manned space mission was affected by illness of a crew member. The launch attempt was then set for February 25, 1990 and was scrubbed due to malfunction of a range safety computer. The February 26, 1990 attempt was scrubbed due to weather conditions.

Sixth mission dedicated to Department of Defense; deploying of reconnaissance satellite AFP-731 (KH-12; USA-53); later on, the satellite failed and crashed down to Earth.