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This Week in NASA History: STS-41B Lands – Feb. 11, 1984

This week in 1984, the space shuttle Challenger, mission STS-41B, landed safely at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.
This week in 1984, the space shuttle Challenger, mission STS-41B, landed safely at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center following a successful seven-day mission.

This week in 1984, the space shuttle Challenger, mission STS-41B, landed safely at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center following a successful seven-day mission. This was the first shuttle landing at Kennedy. STS-41B is also known for the first untethered spacewalk using the manned maneuvering unit by former NASA astronaut Bruce McCandless. Here, Challenger awaits launch on pad 39A at Kennedy. Today, the Payload Operations Integration Center at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center serves as “science central” for the International Space Station, working 24/7, 365 days a year in support of the orbiting laboratory’s scientific experiments. 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)