The longest Space Shuttle flight in program history begins at 10:53:10 a.m. EDT with a flawless liftoff from Launch Pad 39B. During the 14 day flight of Columbia/STS-58, a seven member crew will study extensively the adaptation of the human body to the near-weightless environment of space.

Mission Commander is John E. Blaha; Pilot, Richard A. Searfoss; Payload Commander, Dr. M. Rhea Seddon; Mission Specialists, William S. McArthur Jr., David A. Wolf, and Shannon W. Lucid; and Payload Specialist, Martin J. Fettman.