#sts-8

Date: August 30, 1983

A powerful electrical storm created an eerie tapestry of light in the skies near Launch Complex 39A in the hours preceding the launch of STS-8 Challenger.

NASA ID: S83-40452, link

In August 30, 1983 he flew on board Challenger, as one of 3 Mission Specialists. Challenger completed 98 orbits of the Earth and splashed down in September 5, 1983. Bluford would complete 3 more space shuttle missions, retiring from the Air Force and NASA in 1993.

Colonel G Stewart Bluford Jr (holding the model plane) is pictured with his wife, Linda Tull, and sons James and Guion III. (Source: NASA and Terry Slezak for Life Magazine)

"NASA's eighth space shuttle launch lights up the Florida sky at 2:32 a.m. (EDT), Aug. 30, 1983. The Challenger's third flight is the first to have its beginnings in darkness. Five astronauts and an assortment of experiments are aboard the reusable vehicle. Crew members are astronauts Richard H. Truly, STS-8 commander; Daniel C. Brandenstein, pilot; and Dale A. Gardner, Guion S. Bluford and William E. Thornton, all mission specialists."

"The night launch of Challenger heading toward its third earth-orbital mission is featured in the official insignia for STS-8. The eighth flight of the United States Space Transportation System is represented by eight stars of the constellation Aquila, 'The Eagle,' Astronauts Richard H. Truly, commander; Daniel C. Brandenstein, pilot; Dale A. Gardner, Guion S. Bluford, and William E. Thornton--all mission specialists--have their sumames on the border of the insignia."

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Date: August 30, 1983

"The nighttime liftoff of the Space Shuttle Challenger casts a brilliant glow across the marshy Kennedy Space Center (KSC) landscape. This aerial view from west of the vehicle assembly building (VAB) shows the Challenger climbing toward space just after its 2:32 a.m. (EDT) launch to begin the STS-8 mission."

Date: August 30, 1983

"The Space Shuttle Orbiter Challenger (STS-8) makes the first nighttime landing of the Space Transportation System as it touches down on Runway 22 at 12:40 am PDT at the end of a six-day mission. Aboard the shuttle are: Richard H. Truly, commander; Daniel Brandenstein, pilot; and mission specialists Guion S. Bluford, Dale A. Gardner and Dr. William E. Thornton."

Date: September 5, 1983

"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 flight activities officer (FAO) console to the right of the CAPCOM console. The scene on the large screen in the mission operations control room (MOCR) is a replay of the launch of the Challenger (39264); Flight Director Jay H. Greene, left, watches a replay of the STS-8 launch on the large screen in the MOCR. He is joined by O'Connor, Jeffrey A. Hoffman, Gardner and Fisher. Lau works at the FAO console near the CAPCOM console (39265); Harold Black, integrated communications officer (INCO) for STS-8 mans the INCO console during the first TV downlink from the Challengers flight. The payload bay can be seen on the screen in the front of the MOCR (39266)."

Date: August 30, 1983

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

Date: 1983-1985