Columbia launched with the Laser Geodynamic Satellite-2 (LAGEOS-2) at 1:10 p.m. on October 22, 1992. The shuttle also took the U.S. Microgravity Payload 1 package of experiments into orbit. The crew was led by commander Jim Wetherbee, with pilot Mike Baker, mission specialists Charles Veach, Bill Shepherd and Tammy Jernigan and payload specialist was Steven MacLean.