Hauck was spacecraft commander of "Discovery" on STS-26, the first flight to be flown after the "Challenger" accident. The mission launched on September 29, 1988. The flight crew included the pilot, Richard Covey, and three mission specialists, David Hilmers, Mike Lounge, and George Nelson. During the four-day mission, the crew deployed the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS-C) and operated eleven mid-deck experiments. "Discovery" completed 64 orbits of the Earth before landing at Edwards Air Force Base, California, on October 3, 1988.