#sts-6

"Downtown Houston and southern portions of that city form the backdrop for this picture of the Space Transportation System's Challenger flying to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida from its California landing site. It is ferried by NASA 905, a modified 747 aircraft. The crew inside the 747 was as follows: Pilot Joseph S. Algranti; Co-pilot Francis R. (Dick) Scobee; Flight Engineers Louis E. (Skip) Guidry Jr. and Glen O. Pingry. The frame was exposed by Bob Gray from the rear station of a nearby T-38 chase plane piloted by David L. Mumme. The Harris County Domed Stadium (Astrodome) can be seen near center."

Date: April 16, 1983

Space Shuttle Challenger lifts off from LC-39A for STS-6, on April 4, 1983.

This was her first launch and mission.

1983 - Aboard OV-099 Challenger, Astronauts Story Musgrave and Don Peterson perform the shuttle program’s first EVA during mission STS-6. One can see clearly the hand-holds integrated into the payload bay for Astronauts to utilize on spacewalks. 

"Space Shuttle Challenger, atop a mobile launch platform, slowly moves through the Florida fog to Launch Pad 39A in preparation for its first liftoff early next year. The fully assembled shuttle, weighting 12,000 pounds less than predecessor Columbia, completed the trip in just over six hours."

Date: November 30, 1982

"Space Shuttle Challenger waits on Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center before its first mission, STS-6, launched on April 4, 1983. Originally built as a test vehicle, in 1979 NASA issued a contract to convert it to a fully space-rated orbiter. It became the second operational Shuttle, delivered to Kennedy Space Center in July 1982. Challenger was destroyed shortly after lift off on her 10th mission, STS-51L, on January 28, 1986."

Date: January 26, 1983