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Rockwell InternationalSpace ShuttleLaunch Complex 39A, Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA
STS-8
Launched
August 30, 1983
Summary
STS-8 launched on a Rockwell International Space Shuttle from Launch Complex 39A, Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA on August 30, 1983. It was Rockwell International's 7th launch, 3rd this year and humanity's 2,736th orbital launch attempt. It was the 8th Space Shuttle flight and the 3rd this year. The payload was bound for low Earth orbit (LEO). Challenger (STS-8), one of 3 catalogued objects, reached a 303 × 310 km orbit inclined 28.5°. 5 crew members flew: William E. Thornton, Richard H. Truly, Daniel Brandenstein, Guion Bluford and Dale Gardner. The spacecraft was Space Shuttle Challenger (OV-099). 3 objects from this launch are catalogued, 2 of them payloads.
- Watch
- ABC & NBC News Coverage of STS-8 Part 3zellco321
- STS-8 Launch Multi-Viewlunarmodule5
- Vehicle
- Space Shuttle · Rockwell InternationalSpace Shuttle
- Booster
- No booster details on record.
- Mission
- Communications · Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
- Milestone
- 8th Space Shuttle flight · 3rd this yearRockwell International's 7th launch3rd this yearhumanity's 2,736th orbital launch attempt90th orbital launch attempt this year
Crew
William E. ThorntonMission Specialist · NASA · age 54 · first flight
Richard H. TrulyCommander · NASA · age 45 · 2nd flight
Daniel BrandensteinPilot · NASA · age 40 · first flight
Guion BlufordMission Specialist · NASA · age 40 · first flight
Dale GardnerMission Specialist · NASA · age 34 · 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 1 hour
Space Shuttle Challenger successfully landed at Edwards Air Force Base after this mission.
Flight preview
Orbit: as tracked
Challenger (STS-8) · NORAD 14312 · 1983-089 · Space-Track · tracking 1 of 3 objects
Show the numbers for orbit elements
- Object
- STS 8
- Object ID
- 1983-089A
- Epoch
- 1983-08-30 08:31:59 UTC
- Mean motion
- 15.91063881 rev/day
- Eccentricity
- 0.0005163
- Inclination
- 28.465°
- Ascending node
- 267.1699°
- Arg. of perigee
- 282.6001°
- Mean anomaly
- 265.8604°
- Element set
- 999
- Rev at epoch
- 2
- 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
3 catalogued: 2 payloads, 1 component; 2 still in orbit
- Challenger (STS-8) · NORAD 14312 · landed September 5, 1983
- Insat 1B · NORAD 14318 · in orbit
Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org
About this launch
STS-8 was the third mission of Space Shuttle Challenger. It deployed an Indian 10 and Weather satellite. It was the first night launch and night landing of the Shuttle program. It also carried the first African-American astronaut; Guion Bluford.
Pad
Launch Complex 39A, Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA
20th launch from Launch Complex 39A, 3rd this year · 25th from Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA
224 launches from this pad · 283 from Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA
72 days after the previous launch from this pad
Questions
When did STS-8 launch?
STS-8 launched on August 30, 1983. The time is known to the hour, not the minute.
Where can I watch STS-8?
Coverage: ABC & NBC News Coverage of STS-8 Part 3; STS-8 Launch Multi-View. Watch the replay
What rocket launched STS-8?
Space Shuttle, flown by Rockwell International. Space Shuttle spec sheet
Where did STS-8 launch from?
Launch Complex 39A, Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA.
What orbit did STS-8 reach?
Challenger (STS-8), one of 3 catalogued objects, reached a 303 × 310 km orbit inclined 28.5°.
How many satellites did STS-8 launch?
2 payloads from this launch are catalogued, 1 of them still in orbit (Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org).
Which program is STS-8 part of?
Space Shuttle. About Space Shuttle