The Space Shuttle Endeavour, designated OV-105, launched on its fifth mission, STS-59, from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This mission, which launched on April 9, 1994, was notable for carrying the Space Radar Laboratory (SRL-2), which included sophisticated radar instruments designed to gather detailed data about Earth's surface. One of the primary objectives of the mission was to utilize synthetic aperture radar to measure the Earth's topography, study forest dynamics, and gather information on geological features and environmental conditions. This multi-faceted scientific approach allowed researchers to advance their understanding of Earth systems and processes.

The Endeavour was commanded by John W. Young, a veteran astronaut who had previously flown several missions including the Apollo lunar program. The crew also included mission specialists such as Charles D. Gemar, Jerry L. Ross, and Canadian astronaut Roberta Bondar, the first woman in Canada to fly in space. The STS-59 mission lasted for 10 days, during which the crew carried out numerous experiments and continued to push the boundaries of human capabilities in the study of Earth and space. The successful deployment of the SRL-2 helped NASA enhance its Earth observation capabilities significantly.

The mission's achievements were crucial as they demonstrated the effectiveness of the Space Shuttle program in conducting complex scientific operations in low Earth orbit. Following the completion of the mission, the Endeavour returned to Earth, solidifying its reputation as a reliable and critical asset for NASA's goals in space exploration and earth sciences.