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Rockwell InternationalSpace ShuttleLaunch Complex 39A, Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA
STS-7
Launched
June 18, 1983 · 11:33 UTC
Summary
STS-7 launched on a Rockwell International Space Shuttle from Launch Complex 39A, Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA on June 18, 1983 at 11:33 UTC. It was Rockwell International's 6th launch, 2nd this year and humanity's 2,706th orbital launch attempt. It was the 7th Space Shuttle flight and the 2nd this year. The payload was bound for low Earth orbit (LEO). Challenger (STS-7), one of 6 catalogued objects, reached a 302 × 310 km orbit inclined 28.5°. 5 crew members flew: Frederick "Rick" Hauck, Robert Crippen, John M. Fabian, Sally Ride and Norman E. Thagard. The spacecraft was Space Shuttle Challenger (OV-099). 6 objects from this launch are catalogued, 4 of them payloads.
- Watch
- Space Shuttle Challenger - STS-7 Launch Replayslunarmodule5
- Space Shuttle Challenger - STS-7 Launchlunarmodule5
- Vehicle
- Space Shuttle · Rockwell InternationalSpace Shuttle
- Booster
- No booster details on record.
- Mission
- Communications · Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
- Milestone
- 7th Space Shuttle flight · 2nd this yearRockwell International's 6th launch2nd this yearhumanity's 2,706th orbital launch attempt60th orbital launch attempt this year
Crew
Frederick "Rick" HauckPilot · NASA · age 42 · first flight
Robert CrippenCommander · NASA · age 45 · 2nd flight
John M. FabianMission Specialist · NASA · age 44 · first flight
Sally RideMission Specialist · NASA · age 32 · first flight
Norman E. ThagardMission Specialist · NASA · age 39 · first flight
Spacecraft
Space Shuttle Challenger (OV-099)
Space Shuttle Challenger (Orbiter Vehicle Designation: OV-099) was the second orbiter of NASA's space shuttle program to be put into service, after Columbia. Challenger was built by Rockwell International's Space Transportation Systems Division, in Downey, California. Its maiden flight, STS-6, began on April 4, 1983. The orbiter was launched and landed nine times before breaking apart 73 seconds into its tenth mission, STS-51-L, on January 28, 1986, resulting in the death of all seven crew members, including a civilian school teacher. It was the first of two shuttles to be destroyed in flight, the other being Columbia, in 2003. The accident led to a two-and-a-half-year grounding of the shuttle fleet; flights resumed in 1988, with STS-26 flown by Discovery. Challenger was replaced by Endeavour, which was built from structural spares ordered by NASA in the construction contracts for Discovery and Atlantis.
- Destination: Low Earth Orbit
- Mission length: 6 days 2 hours
Space Shuttle Challenger successfully landed at Edwards Air Force Base after this mission.
Flight preview
Orbit: as tracked
Challenger (STS-7) · NORAD 14132 · 1983-059 · Space-Track · tracking 1 of 6 objects
Show the numbers for orbit elements
- Object
- TBA - TO BE ASSIGNED
- Object ID
- 1983-059A
- Epoch
- 1983-06-18 12:19:34 UTC
- Mean motion
- 15.9121843 rev/day
- Eccentricity
- 0.0006176
- Inclination
- 28.4673°
- Ascending node
- 272.8074°
- Arg. of perigee
- 268.4346°
- Mean anomaly
- 346.6707°
- Element set
- 999
- Rev at epoch
- 0
- B*
- 0.00034999
Perigee, apogee and period are Kepler figures from the catalogued mean elements, not a propagated state. Published orbit: LEO. Ascent drawn from padside's representative profile.
Catalogued objects
6 catalogued: 4 payloads, 2 components; 2 still in orbit
- Challenger (STS-7) · NORAD 14132 · landed June 24, 1983
- Anik C2 · NORAD 14133
- Palapa B1 · NORAD 14134
- SPAS 1 · NORAD 14142
Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org
About this launch
STS-7 was the second mission for the Space Shuttle Challenger. It deployed several satellites into orbit. It was the first mission scheduled to land at Kennedy Space Center however it had to divert to Edwards Air Force Base due to bad weather. STS-7 carried Sally Ride, America's first female astronaut.
Pad
Launch Complex 39A, Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA
19th launch from Launch Complex 39A, 2nd this year · 24th from Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA
Local pad time at liftoff: Jun 18, 7:33 AM EDT, in daylight
224 launches from this pad · 283 from Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA
74 days after the previous launch from this pad
Questions
When did STS-7 launch?
STS-7 launched on June 18, 1983 at 11:33 UTC.
Where can I watch STS-7?
Coverage: Space Shuttle Challenger - STS-7 Launch Replays; Space Shuttle Challenger - STS-7 Launch. Watch the replay
What rocket launched STS-7?
Space Shuttle, flown by Rockwell International. Space Shuttle spec sheet
Where did STS-7 launch from?
Launch Complex 39A, Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA. Liftoff was Jun 18, 7:33 AM EDT local time at the pad.
What orbit did STS-7 reach?
Challenger (STS-7), one of 6 catalogued objects, reached a 302 × 310 km orbit inclined 28.5°.
How many satellites did STS-7 launch?
4 payloads from this launch are catalogued (Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org).
Which program is STS-7 part of?
Space Shuttle. About Space Shuttle