The Space shuttle orbiter Challenger is given a 20-second test firing of its new main engines on December 18, 1982 on pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center. This test was the first time these engines ahd been tes More
STS006-46-617 (4-9 April 1983) --- This view of sunset over the Amazon Basin was photographed with a 35mm camera from the Earth-orbiting space shuttle Challenger. The reusable vehicle was making its first trip More
STS006-38-894 (4 April 1983) --- The tracking and data relay satellite (TDRS) leaves the 18-meter (60-ft) long cargo bay of the Earth-orbiting space shuttle Challenger about ten hours following launch of NASA’s More
STS006-10-417 (7 April 1983) --- Astronauts F. Story Musgrave, left, and Donald H. Peterson float about in the cargo bay of the Earth-orbiting space shuttle Challenger during their April 7, 1983, extravehicular More
STS006-06-456 (4-9 April 1983) --- Astronaut Paul J. Weitz, STS-6 commander, points out an item in the crew activity plan (CAP) to astronaut Donald H. Peterson as the mission specialist uses a spoon to eat a me More
STS006-06-465 (7 April 1983) --- Three-fourths of the STS-6 astronaut crew appears in this unusual 35mm frame exposed in the airlock of the Earth-orbiting space shuttle Challenger. Astronaut F. Story Musgrave’s More
S83-30220 (9 April 1983) --- The space shuttle Challenger makes its first landing shortly before 11 a.m. (PST) on April 9, 1983, on Runway 22 at the Edwards Air Force Base in Southern California. Onboard the re More
STS007-18-770 (18-24 June 1983) --- Telesat-F communications satellite is just about to clear the vertical stabilizer of the Earth-orbiting Space Shuttle Challenger to begin its way toward its Earth-orbital destination.
STS007-32-1667 (22 June 1983) --- The Earth-orbiting Space Shuttle Challenger over a heavily cloud-covered portion of the Earth was captured by a 70mm camera onboard the temporarily free-flying Shuttle Pallet S More
STS007-06-0314 (18-24 June 1983) --- Astronaut John M. Fabian, STS-7 mission specialist, sleeps in a zip-up blue sleep restraint device in the locker area of the Earth-orbiting space shuttle Challenger's middec More
STS007-26-1438 (18-24 June 1983) --- Astronaut Sally K. Ride, mission specialist, was captured at her sleep station in the Space Shuttle Challenger's middeck by a fellow crew member using a 35mm camera. This m More
STS007-26-1439 (18-24 June 1983) --- Astronaut John M. Fabian, STS-7 mission specialist, is captured with a 35mm camera at his sleep station in the middeck of the Earth-orbiting space shuttle Challenger. This s More
STS007-31-1614 & S83-35775 (24 June 1983) --- Astronaut Robert L. Crippen is seen at the commander’s station of the Space Shuttle Challenger as it passes through the Earth’s atmosphere on re-entry. The frict More
S83-35783 / STS007-05-029 (18-24 June 1983) --- Astronaut Sally K. Ride, mission specialist, is shown here sitting in the front seat and looking out the windows of the Earth-orbiting Space Shuttle Challenger. More
S83-35782 (18 June 1983) --- An Orbital Maneuvering System (OMS) engine firing caused this bright glow at the aft end of the Earth-orbiting space shuttle Challenger on June 18, 1983. Also visible in the 70mm e More
S83-35768 (18-24 June 1983) --- Astronaut Sally K. Ride, mission specialist for STS-7, uses a screw driver in order to clean out an air filtering system in the mid-deck of the Earth-orbiting Space Shuttle Chall More
View of the Payload Flight Test Article (PFTA) installed into Challenger's cargo bay in the Payload Changeout Room at Pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC). The American flag is visible on one side of the P More
Serving as spacecraft communicators (CAPCOM) are Astronauts Guy S. Gardner (left), William F. Fisher (center), Bryan D. O'Connor (seated facing console), and Jeffrey A. Hoffman. Cheevon B. Lau is seated at the More
STS008-35-1239 (30 Aug.-5 Sept. 1983) --- The space shuttle Challenger?s payload flight test article (PFTA) is lifted from the cargo bay and held over clouds and water on Earth. The 70mm frame was photographed More
STS008-49-1724 (31 Aug 1983) --- The Indian National Satellite (INSAT) is about to clear the vertical stabilizer of the Earth-orbiting Space Shuttle Challenger and on its way to a higher orbit. The STS-8 missi More
S83-39238 (1 Aug. 1983) --- The giant cluster of spaceflight hardware for NASA's eighth Space Transportation System (STS) mission begins its slow move to the launch pad at launch complex 39 at NASA's Kennedy Sp More
STS008-49-1722 (30 Aug-5 Sept 1983) --- The Indian National Satellite (INSAT) is about to clear the Earth-orbiting Space Shuttle Challenger this 70mm frame exposed with a handheld camera from the aft flight dec More
Terry White, serving as public affairs office commentator in the mission operations control room (MOCR) of JSC's mission control center, reads a status report on the STS-8 mission.
STS008-13-0361 (30 Aug.-5 Sept. 1983) --- Astronaut Guion S. Bluford, STS-8 mission specialist, assists Dr. William E. Thornton (out of frame) with a medical test that requires use of the treadmill exercising d More
STS008-05-145 (5 Sept 1983) --- On middeck (MDK), Mission Specialist (MS) Gardner sleeps in sleep restraint attached to starboard wall. Open airlock hatch, airlock hatch hinge, and free-floating footwear appear in view.
S84-26294 (3 Feb 1984) --- This scenic panorama of billowy clouds over the Atlantic and Florida and the contrasting addition of mankind's technology into the picture was provided by astronaut John W. Young and More
S84-26327 (3 Feb. 1984) --- Beginning a busy year, NASA's space shuttle Challenger, attached to two solid rocket boosters and an external fuel tank which it will later jettison, blasts off from Pad A at Kennedy More
S84-27022 (7 Feb 1984) --- A 35mm frame from the February 7, 1984, extravehicular activity (EVA) photographed with a camera affixed to the gear of astronaut Bruce McCandless II. The mission specialist was equi More
S84-27021 (7 Feb 1984) --- Astronaut Bruce McCandless II, 41B mission specialist tests a "cherry-picker" type device during February 7 historical Extravehicular Activity (EVA). The EVA, in which Astronauts McCa More
S84-27024 (7 Feb 1984) --- This 70mm frame centers on a foot restraint that strayed from the Earth-orbiting Space Shuttle Challenger during the February 9, 1984 extravehicular activity (EVA) session of astronau More
S84-27023 (7 Feb 1984) --- This 70mm frame shows astronaut Bruce McCandless II moving in to conduct a test involving the Trunion Pin Attachment Device (TPAD) he carries and the Shuttle Pallet Satellite (SPAS-01 More
S84-27020 (7 Feb 1984) --- A fixed camera on astronaut Bruce McCandless II's helmet recorded this rare scene of the Space Shuttle Challenger some 50 to 60 meters away during a history-making extravehicular acti More
S84-27026 (3-11 Feb. 1984) --- The "star burst" type informal portrait of Space Shuttle crews has become somewhat of a tradition and the five-member STS-41B crew is no exception. HOLD PICTURE WITH SEMI-CIR More
S84-27031 (7 Feb 1984) --- Astronaut Bruce McCandless II, 41-B mission specialist, reaches a maximum distance from the Challenger before reversing direction his manned maneuvering unit (MMU) and returning to th More
S84-27027 (3-11 Feb 1984) --- Astronaut Robert L. Gibson, STS-41B pilot, reviews some teleprinter copy on the flight deck's starboard station during the eight-day STS-41B Space Shuttle mission. Four other astro More
S84-27155 (11 Feb 1984) --- The first Space Shuttle landing in Florida was recorded just moments prior to touchdown on the long landing facility of the Kennedy Space Center. Patches of fog were sighted near th More
S84-27154 (11 Feb 1984) --- The first Space Shuttle landing on the Kennedy Space Center?s landing facility was recorded by a ground camera on February 11, 1984. A T-38 chase plane trails the Challenger. The n More
S84-27232 (& Feb 1984) --- Astronaut Bruce McCandless II, 41-B mission specialist, uses his hands to control his movement above the Earth - and just few meters away from the Challenger - during the first-ever More
S84-27717 (11 Feb 1984) --- A chase plane gets a "front row" position to view the touchdown of the total landing gear of the Space Shuttle Challenger as the reusable spacecraft makes NASA's first landing on the More
41C-3029 (6 April 1984) --- The space shuttle Challenger and its five-member astronaut crew leave the launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center to begin a six-day stay in space. Astronaut John W. Young, a veteran More
41C-52-2646 (11 April 1984) --- Astronaut James D. van Hoften and a repaired satellite are in a wide panorama recorded on film with a Linhof camera, making its initial flight aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger More
41C-37-1711 (11 April 1984) --- The two mission specialist-EVA participants of Flight 41-C share a repair task at the "captured" Solar Maximum Mission Satellite (SMMS) in the aft end of the Challenger's cargo b More
41C-02-067 (6-13 April 1984) --- One of the first major accomplishments of Flight 41-C?s crew aboard the Challenger was to place this giant satellite into Earth orbit. Still attached to the remote manipulator More
41G-90082 / S17-90082 (5 Oct 1984) --- Astronauts Sally K. Ride (right) and Kathryn D. Sullivan, two of three mission specialists, synchronize their watches prior to ingressing the Space Shuttle Challenger on t More
41G-90139 (5 October 1984) --- A Florida dawn scene forms the backdrop for the climbing Space Shuttle Challenger, its two solid rocket boosters and external fuel tank. Seven crewmembers, a space record, head fo More
View of the early morning launch of STS 41-G Challenger. The dark launch complex is illuminated by spotlights as the orbiter begins its ascent from the pad.
View of the SIR-B antenna being deployed during STS 41-G. The Challenger's payload bay is open and the remote manipulator system (RMS) arm is in the stowed position at the right of the view.
View of the early morning launch of STS 41-G Challenger. The dark launch complex is illuminated by spotlights as the orbiter begins its ascent from the pad. The light is reflected off the clouds of smoke from t More
41G-03-008 (5-13 Oct. 1984) --- The end effector of the space shuttle Challenger's remote manipulator system (RMS) taps against the shuttle imaging radar's (SIR-B) antenna to secure it during NASA's 41-G missio More
41G-90081 / S17-90081 (5 Oct 1984) --- The seven member crew leaves the Operations and Checkout Building (OCB) to take a van ride to the launch pad. Leading the way is Kathryn D. Sullivan followed in file by R More
41G-07-021 (5-13 October 1984) --- Astronauts Kathryn D. Sullivan, left, and Sally K. Ride show off what appears to be a "bag of worms", a product of their creativity. The "bag" is a sleep restraint and the maj More
Payload specialist Marc Garneau displays a Canadian made Sunphotometer, part of a package of experiments which he is concentrating on during this mission. He is sitting on the Challenger's flight deck at the aft station.
41G-121-099 (5-13 Oct. 1984) --- Hurricane Josephine was photographed with a medium format camera aimed through the space shuttle Challenger's aft flight deck windows during NASA's 41-G mission. The hurricane's More
41G-90217 (13 Oct 1984) --- 41-G crew leaves the orbiter after landing at Kennedy Space Center at the end of their mission. Astronaut Robert Crippen shakes hands with George W.S. Abbey, Director of JSC's Flight More
41G-19-006 (5-13 Oct. 1984) --- The seven-member 41-G crew assembles for a group shot on the flight deck of the Earth-orbiting space shuttle Challenger. Robert L. Crippen, commander, is in center of the back ro More
The Space Shuttle Challenger lands at Kennedy Space Center (KSC) at the end of the STS 41-G mission. The main landing gear has already touched down in this view, but the nose gear is still in the air (90232); F More
41G-102-047 (13 Oct. 1984) --- An unusual picture, photographed by astronaut Kathryn D. Sullivan, shows the beginning and ending location of her eight-day mission in space with six other 41-G crew members aboar More
41G-90218 (13 October 1984) --- Space Shuttle Challenger makes its second touchdown at Kennedy Space Center's landing facility. The photo was taken by Otis Imboden.
S84-43432 (11 Oct. 1984) --- Appearing small in the center background of this image, astronauts Kathryn D. Sullivan, left, and David C. Leestma, both 41-G mission specialists, perform an in-space simulation of More
In this low-angle photo Payload specialist Lodewijk van den Berg, one of two payload specialists, looks out aft flight deck window aboard the shuttle orbiter Challenger.
51B-116-005 (29 April - 6 May 1985) --- Astronaut Don L. Lind, mission specialist, termed this scene of an aurora in the Southern Hemisphere as "spectacular," during a TV down link featuring discussion of the a More
Astronaut Norman E. Thagard, mission specialist for the "silver" team, rests on the middeck while the "gold" team is on duty in the science module. Don L. Lind, left, "gold" team member, meanwhile participates More
51F-33-005 (29 July - 6 August 1985) --- Experiments and the instrument pointing system (IPS) for Spacelab 2 are backdropped against the Libya/Tunisia Mediterranean coast and black space in this 70mm view photo More
51F-S-038 (29 July 1985) ---An air-to-air view of the Space Shuttle orbiter Challenger, its two solid rocket boosters and external fuel tank moments after launch from Pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center (KSC). Ast More
51F-S-068 (29 July 1985) --- The Space Shuttle Challenger heads toward Earth-orbit with the Spacelab-2 experiment pallet and a team of astronauts and scientists onboard. This photograph was taken by Otis Imbod More
51F-S-157 (29 July 1985) --- Just moments following ignition, the Space Shuttle Challenger, mated to its two solid rocket boosters and an external fuel tank, soars toward a week-long mission in Earth orbit. No More
51F-17-011 (29 July-6 Aug 1985) --- Loren W. Acton, 51-F payload specialist, triggers a 35mm camera recording stellar imagery through the aft flight deck overhead windows aboard the Earth-orbiting Space Shuttle More
51F-42-069 (29 July-6 Aug 1985) --- The solar optical universal polarimeter (SOUP) experiment is visible among the cluster of Spacelab 2 hardware in the cargo bay of the Earth-orbiting Space Shuttle Challenger, More
61A-08-018 (30 Oct.-6 Nov. 1985) --- Wubbo J. Ockels, a Dutch scientists representing the European Space Agency (ESA), crawls from an unique sleeping restraint in D-1 science module. Unlike the other crewmembe More
61A-117-019 (30 Oct.-6 Nov. 1985) --- Traditional in-flight portrait of all eight STS-61A crew members was made with an automatic exposure of a 35mm camera. Left to right, back row, Henry W. Hartsfield Jr., co More
61A-01-030 (30 Oct.-6 Nov. 1985) --- Mission specialist Guion S. Bluford prepares to perform a physics experiment onboard the D-1 science module in the cargo bay of the earth-orbiting Space Shuttle Challenger. More
61A-S-139 (6 Nov 1985) --- Eight persons returning from space at one time is a record which was set at 9:45:39 a.m. (PST) today when the Space Shuttle Challenger's wheels came to a stop on the runway at Edwards More
Christa McAuliffe and Barbara Morgan, Teacher in space primary and backup crew members for Shuttle Mission STS-51L. This mission ended in failure when the Challenger orbiter exploded 73 seconds after launch on More
S86-25293 (30 Oct. 1985) --- Barbara R. Morgan and Sharon Christa McAuliffe (right) are pictured during a visit to NASA's Kennedy Space Center (KSC) Launch Complex 39 to witness the launch of the space shuttle More
51L-S-156 (28 Jan. 1986) --- The space shuttle Challenger lifted off from Pad 39B Jan. 28, 1986 at 11:38 a.m. (EST) with a crew of seven astronauts and the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS). An accident More
51L-S-002 (28 Jan. 1986) --- Flight directors Jay H. Greene (foreground) and Alan L. (Lee) Briscoe study data on monitors at their consoles in the flight control room (FCR) of the Johnson Space Center's Mission More
S86-38989 (28 Jan. 1986) --- Main engine exhaust, solid rocket booster plume and an expanding ball of gas from the external tank is visible seconds after the space shuttle Challenger accident on Jan. 28, 1986. More
S86-28749 (5 March 1986) --- Two JSC officials chat prior to a meeting with members of the Presidential Commission on the Space Shuttle Challenger Accident, while one of the commissioners studies his notes. Pic More
51L-10162 (8-9 March 1986) --- View of the left solid rocket booster first piece retrieval #11 (STS-51L space shuttle Challenger). Photo credit: NASA
S86-30088 (March 1986) --- Salvage operations offshore of Kennedy Space Center, are depicted in this artist’s concept showing a grapple and recovery fixture (left) being directed through the use of a remote vid More
S86-30336 (4 April 1986) --- Larue Forbes of CSC retrieves one of the MADS tapes for inputting into a nearby computer in the central data office.
51L-10187 (18 April 1986) --- A 9'7" x 16' segment of Challenger's right wing is unloaded at the Logistics Facility after being off-loaded from the rescue and salvage ship USS Opportune. It was located and reco More
STS007-02-020 (21 June 1983) --- Astronaut Sally K. Ride, STS-7 mission specialist, STS-7 mission specialist, stands in the mid deck of the orbiting Space Shuttle Challenger near one of the experiment with whic More