The Cryogenic Infrared Spectrometers and Telescopes for the Atmosphere-Shuttle Pallet Satellite made its second flight aboard Discovery, which was launched at August 7, 1997 at 10:41 a.m. The CRISTA-SPAS craft was deployed and retrieved using the shuttle's robot arm. The crew was led by commander Curt Brown, with pilot Kent Rominger, mission specialists Jan Davis, Bob Curbeam and Stephen Robinson and payload specialist Bjarni Tryggvason.