[RockyTx]

what exactly was the super important mission
that was planned for this flight?

my criticism of the space shuttle program
was that it was 90% joyriding

[MtnClimber]

what exactly was the super important mission that was planned for this flight?<'I>

I don't know if there was a secret motive for the Space Shuttle. If I had to guess it would be research for space based defense and observation capabilities.