The launch was originally scheduled for July 1990 but was rescheduled due to a hydrogen leak found on Space Shuttle Columbia during the STS-35 countdown.

This could not be repaired at the pad and Atlantis was rolled back to the VAB on August 9, 1990, demated, then transferred to the Orbiter Processing Facility (OPF).

During rollback, the vehicle remained parked outside the VAB for about a day while the Columbia/STS-35 stack was transferred to the pad for launch.

During hoisting operations, the platform beam that was to have been removed from the orbiter's aft compartment fell and caused minor damage, which was repaired.

The fourth mini-tanking test was performed on October 24, 1990, with no excessive hydrogen or oxygen leakage detected.

Aviation Week reported that USA-67 was a secret ELINT gathering satellite headed for geosynchronous orbit and launched to monitor the events during the first Gulf War in 1990.

[10] The mission was extended by one day due to unacceptable crosswinds at the planned landing site of Edwards Air Force Base.

The SLF had not been used by a returning shuttle mission in five years, since STS-51-D when Discovery suffered extensive brake damage and a ruptured tire during landing.