The Nation - News from Jan. 6, 1985
The space shuttle Discovery was moved to the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center for its unprecedented secrecy-shrouded flight on Jan. 23, during which the crew will deploy a classified military payload reported to be an advanced intelligence-gathering satellite designed to monitor Soviet compliance with arms-control agreements. On Monday, the five-man crew, commanded by Navy Capt. Thomas Mattingly, will board the shuttle for a rehearsal of the final 2 1/2 hours of the launch countdown.
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