NASA'S First Space Shuttle Mission

Second test flight of the Space Shuttle to demonstrate safe re-launch and safe return of the orbiter and crew.

Third test flight of the Space Shuttle

The final test flight of the Space Transportation System

The first operational mission of the Shuttle, which deployed two commercial satellites.

STS-6 was the maiden flight of Challenger. STS-6 deployed the first Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS-1) into orbit.

STS-7 carried Sally Ride, the first American woman to fly in space.

STS-8 carried Guion Bluford who became the first African-American to fly in space. INSAT-1B, a multipurpose satellite for India which…

STS-9 carried the first Spacelab mission and the first astronaut to represent the European Space Agency.

On this mission the first untethered space walks were carried out by McCandless and Stewart, using the manned maneuvering unit. 

The primary payload of the mission was the Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF).

First flight of Space Shuttle Discovery. The primary payloads for the mission were three commercial communications satellites – SBS-4 for…

The 13th flight of the Space Shuttle program, STS-41G was notable for many firsts and records. It was the first…

One of the unique attributes of the Space Shuttle featured the ability to launch satellites into space and return them…

This was the first mission dedicated to the Department of Defense. The U.S. Air Force Inertial Upper Stage (IUS) booster…