Reference guide of all the external changes made to the Space Shuttle Orbiter Challenger (OV-099) during her lifetime.

Date: 1983-1985

Following the shuttle's rendezvous and docking, the ISS configuration will be augmented by the two elements delivered by Discovery–the Z1 truss and PMA-3. These two elements, depicted in red, will be installed using the shuttle's robot arm and be connected to ISS during four spacewalks. The multi-national nature of both the STS-92 crew and the ISS are reflected in the multi-colored Astronaut Office symbol.

Commemorative design for letter envelope.

Space Shuttle Challenger (OV-099) lifts off on mission STS-41-G at 7:03 a.m. from Launch Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center. This was the first shuttle mission to carry seven astronauts, Paul D. Scully-Power, Robert L. Crippen, Marc Garneau, Jon A. McBride, Sally K. Ride, Kathryn D. Sullivan, and David C. Leestma.

"A Florida dawn scene forms the backdrop for the climbing Space Shuttle Challenger, its two solid rocket boosters and external fuel tank."

"The 41-G mission insignia focuses on its seven crew members (first to exceed six), the U.S. Flag and the Unity symbol known as the astronaut pin. The pin design in center shows a trio of trajectories merging in infinite space, capped by a bright shining star and encircled by an elliptical wreath denoting orbital flight. Crewmembers for the (originally-scheduled 17th STS) mission include Astronauts Robert L. Crippen and Jon A. McBride, commander and pilot, respectively, whose surnames flank those of the NASA mission specialists -- Astronauts Kathryn D. Sullivan, David C. Leestma and Sally K. Ride, Paul Scully-Power, a U.S. Navy oceanographer, and Marc Garneau, a Canadian, join the crew as payload specialists. The artwork was done by Patrick Rawlings."

source

Date: October 5, 1984

NARA: 6387463, DF-SC-85-12082, KSC-84PC-0630, 41G-90139

Space Shuttle Challenger landing at Kennedy Space Center at the end of STS-41-G. This was her second landing at KSC.

Photographed by Otis Imboden.

Date: October 13, 1984

"CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- This orbiter tribute of space shuttle Challenger, or OV-099, hangs in Firing Room 4 of the Launch Control Center at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Challenger's accomplishments include the first night launch and first African-American in space, Guion Bluford, on STS-8, the first in-flight capture, repair and redeployment of an orbiting satellite during STS-41C, the first American woman in space, Sally Ride, on STS-7, and the first American woman to walk in space, Kathryn Sullivan, during STS-41G. Challenger is credited with blazing a trail for NASA's other orbiters with the first night landing at Edwards Air Force Base in California on STS-8 and the first landing at Kennedy on STS-41B. The spacewalker in the tribute represents Challenger’s role in the first spacewalk during STS-6 and the first untethered spacewalk on STS-41B. Crew-designed patches for each of Challenger’s missions lead from Earth toward a remembrance of the STS-51L crew, which was lost 73 seconds after liftoff on Jan. 28, 1986. Five orbiter tributes are on display in the firing room, representing Atlantis, Challenger, Columbia, Endeavour and Discovery."

Graphic design credit: NASA/Lynda less

Date: July 29, 2010

The 6th flight of the Space Shuttle Challenger (and 13th overall mission) launched on 5 October 1984.

The 8-day mission (STS-41-G) had the largest crew to date (7), and the first to include 2 women (Sally Ride and Kathryn Sullivan), as well as the first Canadian astronaut (Marc Garneau).