This week in 1984, space shuttle Challenger, mission STS-41C, launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on the first direct ascent trajectory for a space shuttle. Here, the Solar Maximum Mission Satellite is housed in the orbiter’s cargo bay, demonstrating the capability of the shuttle to rendezvous, service, checkout, and deploy an in-orbit satellite. This was the first in-orbit spacecraft repair. The NASA History Program is responsible for generating, disseminating, and preserving NASA’s remarkable history and providing a comprehensive understanding of the institutional, cultural, social, political, economic, technological, and scientific aspects of NASA’s activities in aeronautics and space. For more pictures like this one and to connect to NASA’s history, visit the Marshall History Program’s webpage. (NASA)