{"id":319046,"date":"2023-05-22T13:01:11","date_gmt":"2023-05-22T17:01:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/?p=319046"},"modified":"2024-05-14T13:25:44","modified_gmt":"2024-05-14T17:25:44","slug":"the-first-flight-of-space-shuttle-challenger","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/missions\/space-shuttle\/the-first-flight-of-space-shuttle-challenger\/","title":{"rendered":"The First Flight of Space Shuttle Challenger"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>In early 1983, with five flights of the Space Shuttle <em>Columbia<\/em> successfully completed, NASA prepared to fly its second Orbiter, Space Shuttle <em>Challenger<\/em>, on its maiden voyage.  Based on lessons learned, <em>Challenger<\/em> used a lighter airframe and employed lighter blankets instead of tiles for thermal protection in certain areas of the vehicle, saving 2,486 pounds in overall weight.  For additional launch performance, <em>Challenger<\/em>\u2019s main engines were rated to 104% maximum thrust versus <em>Columbia<\/em>\u2019s 100%.  The maiden flight of <em>Challenger<\/em> also marked the first use of a lightweight External Tank (ET), weighing about 10,000 pounds less than the tank flown on the first Shuttle flight, and the use of lighter Solid Rocket Booster (SRB) motor casings.  All these improvements resulted in an increased payload mass capability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The primary objective of <em>Challenger<\/em>\u2019s first mission, STS 6, was to deploy the first in a series of Tracking and Data Relay Satellites (TDRS).  The TDRS System, once fully deployed, was a constellation of high-capacity communications satellites in geostationary orbits to provide comprehensive voice and data transmissions between Space Shuttles (and eventually the International Space Station) and Mission Control.  Before the TDRS System became operational, communications between the ground and the Shuttle were possible for only about 15 percent of each orbit.  The Shuttle would deploy the TDRS satellite mated to an Inertial Upper Stage (IUS), which would boost it from low Earth orbit to geostationary orbit.  Another major objective of STS 6 was to conduct the first Extra-Vehicular Activity (EVA) or space walk from the Space Shuttle, and indeed the first US EVA since Skylab in 1974.  A variety of science experiments rounded out the five-day mission.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-fit \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/challenger-trio.png\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"535\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/challenger-trio.png?w=2048\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Trio of the image patch, crew members, and\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/challenger-trio.png 2082w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/challenger-trio.png?resize=300,78 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/challenger-trio.png?resize=768,201 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/challenger-trio.png?resize=1024,268 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/challenger-trio.png?resize=1536,401 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/challenger-trio.png?resize=2048,535 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/challenger-trio.png?resize=400,105 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/challenger-trio.png?resize=600,157 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/challenger-trio.png?resize=900,235 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/challenger-trio.png?resize=1200,314 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/challenger-trio.png?resize=2000,523 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" loading=\"eager\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">STS-6 mission patch (left). STS-6 crew photo (left to right): Donald Peterson, Paul Weitz, Story Musgrave and Karol Bobko (middle). Rollout of Space Shuttle Challenger on a foggy morning in November 1982 (right).<\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\">NASA<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>The crew of STS-6 had the distinction of being the oldest crew flown up to that time, with a combined age of 191 years and an average age of nearly 48.  Three of the crewmembers had waited fifteen years or more for their first space flight since being selected as astronauts.  Commander of STS-6 was Paul J. Weitz, selected in 1966 and a veteran of the 28-day Skylab 2 mission in 1973.  Pilot Karol J. Bobko, making his first space flight, was selected in the second group of astronauts for the US Air Force Manned Orbiting Lab (MOL) in 1966 and transferred to NASA in 1969.  The two Mission Specialists were F. Story Musgrave, a scientist-astronaut selected in 1967, and Donald H. Peterson, another MOL astronaut transferred to NASA in 1969, both making their first flights.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-fit \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/challenger-trio2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"705\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/challenger-trio2.png?w=2048\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Trio of images showing the Space Shuttle Challenger launch, then two pictures of Challenger in orbit\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/challenger-trio2.png 2062w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/challenger-trio2.png?resize=300,103 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/challenger-trio2.png?resize=768,264 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/challenger-trio2.png?resize=1024,353 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/challenger-trio2.png?resize=1536,529 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/challenger-trio2.png?resize=2048,705 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/challenger-trio2.png?resize=400,138 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/challenger-trio2.png?resize=600,207 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/challenger-trio2.png?resize=900,310 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/challenger-trio2.png?resize=1200,413 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/challenger-trio2.png?resize=2000,689 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">Launch of Space Shuttle Challenger on the STS-6 mission (left). Deployment of the TDRS communications satellite on the IUS (middle). Musgrave (left) and Peterson (right) conducting the first Space Shuttle EVA (right).<\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\">NASA<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p><em>Challenger<\/em> arrived at Kennedy Space Center (KSC) on July 5, 1982, and after checkout and mating with its ET and SRBs rolled out to Launch Complex 39A on November 30.  Launch of STS-6 occurred April 4, 1983, and about 10 hours into the mission, the crew deployed the TDRS\/IUS stack from the cargo bay, successfully completing the primary objective of the flight.  Unfortunately, the IUS placed the TDRS into an improperly low orbit, and it took several months of the TDRS using its own fuel to achieve the proper geostationary position.  For the next two days, the crew conducted a variety of science experiments and prepared for the EVA on the fourth day.  On April 7, wearing the new space suits designed specifically for Space Shuttle EVAs, Musgrave and Peterson floated out of the airlock and into <em>Challenger<\/em>\u2019s cargo bay.  For four hours and 10 minutes, the pair evaluated the mobility of the new suit and practiced various activities in the payload bay before returning to the airlock to end the first Shuttle EVA.  On April 9, the crew fired <em>Challenger<\/em>\u2019s engines to return to Earth, and made a successful landing at Edwards Air Force Base in California, having completed 80 orbits around the Earth in five days and 23 minutes, and traveling 2 million miles.  <em>Challenger<\/em> was ferried back to KSC on April 19, to prepare for its next historic mission, STS-7, in June.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-fit \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/challenger-trio3.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1974\" height=\"688\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/challenger-trio3.png?w=1974\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Two images, one is an astronaut aboard Challenger, the other is the orbiter landing\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/challenger-trio3.png 1974w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/challenger-trio3.png?resize=300,105 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/challenger-trio3.png?resize=768,268 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/challenger-trio3.png?resize=1024,357 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/challenger-trio3.png?resize=1536,535 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/challenger-trio3.png?resize=400,139 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/challenger-trio3.png?resize=600,209 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/challenger-trio3.png?resize=900,314 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/challenger-trio3.png?resize=1200,418 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1974px) 100vw, 1974px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">Musgrave conducting the Continuous Flow Electrophoresis Experiment (CFES) experiment on the middeck of the Space Shuttle Challenger (left). Space Shuttle Challenger lands at Edward AFB to end the STS-6 mission (right).<\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\">NASA<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Read about the Space Shuttle Challenger STS-6 mission from three of the crewmembers in their oral histories with the JSC History Office:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Read about the STS-6 mission from three of the crewmembers in their oral histories with the JSC History Office:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.jsc.nasa.gov\/history\/oral_histories\/WeitzPJ\/weitzpj.htm\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.jsc.nasa.gov\/history\/oral_histories\/WeitzPJ\/weitzpj.htm<\/a><br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.jsc.nasa.gov\/history\/oral_histories\/BobkoKJ\/bobkokj.htm\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.jsc.nasa.gov\/history\/oral_histories\/BobkoKJ\/bobkokj.htm<\/a><br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.jsc.nasa.gov\/history\/oral_histories\/PetersonDH\/petersondh.htm\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.jsc.nasa.gov\/history\/oral_histories\/PetersonDH\/petersondh.htm<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In early 1983, with five flights of the Space Shuttle Columbia successfully completed, NASA prepared to fly its second Orbiter, Space Shuttle Challenger, on its maiden voyage.  Based on lessons learned, Challenger used a lighter airframe and employed lighter blankets instead of tiles for thermal protection in certain areas of the vehicle, saving 2,486 pounds in overall weight.  For [...]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":27,"featured_media":281686,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nasa_hds_core_meta_l10n":"en-US","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_editor":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_contacts":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_topic":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_linked_locations":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_related_articles":[],"hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_id":"","hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_type":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_x":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_y":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_gallery_images":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[2725,3668,3462,3742,3646,3070],"news-tags":[],"internal-terms":[],"coauthors":[8355],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"The First Flight of Space Shuttle Challenger","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/missions\/space-shuttle\/the-first-flight-of-space-shuttle-challenger\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/missions\/space-shuttle\/the-first-flight-of-space-shuttle-challenger\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/sts-6-crew.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/sts-6-crew.jpg"},"articleSection":"Missions","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Heather Deiss"}],"creator":["Heather Deiss"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"NASA","logo":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/themes\/nasa\/assets\/images\/nasa-logo.svg"},"keywords":["Missions","Space Shuttle","STS-6","Donald H. Peterson","Karol J. Bobko","Paul J. Weitz","Story Musgrave"],"dateCreated":"2023-05-22T17:01:11Z","datePublished":"2023-05-22T17:01:11Z","dateModified":"2024-05-14T17:25:44Z"},"rendered":"<meta name=\"parsely-title\" content=\"The First Flight of Space Shuttle Challenger\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-link\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/missions\/space-shuttle\/the-first-flight-of-space-shuttle-challenger\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-type\" content=\"post\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-image-url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/sts-6-crew.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-pub-date\" content=\"2023-05-22T17:01:11Z\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-section\" content=\"Missions\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-tags\" content=\"Missions,Space Shuttle,STS-6,Donald H. Peterson,Karol J. Bobko,Paul J. Weitz,Story Musgrave\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-author\" content=\"Heather Deiss\" \/>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/nasa.gov\/p.js"},"read_time":4,"time_ago":"1 year","featured_image":{"id":281686,"file":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/sts-6-crew.jpg","title":"STS-6 Crew","alt":"The crew of STS-6","caption":"These four astronauts represent the first crewmembers to man the space shuttle Challenger when it launches from Launch Pad 39A to begin STS-6 in early 1983. Seated are Paul J. Weitz (left), crew commander, and Karol J. Bobko, pilot. Standing are Donald H. Peterson (left), and Story Musgrave, both mission specalists. They are pictured with a model of the shuttle in launch configuration, the U.S. flag and their mission emblem."},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/319046"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/27"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=319046"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/319046\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":661387,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/319046\/revisions\/661387"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/281686"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=319046"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=319046"},{"taxonomy":"news-tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-tags?post=319046"},{"taxonomy":"internal-terms","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/internal-terms?post=319046"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=319046"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}