Success
STS-6
Communications
Rockwell International(ROI)Commercial
Space Shuttle
LEOorbit
STS-6 was the maiden flight of the Space Shuttle Challenger. It deployed the first Tracking and Data Relay Satellite into orbit for NASA, forming an integral part of NASAs in-space 10. It was also the first Space Shuttle mission involving a spacewalk. It was the first mission in which the Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) was used.
Monday, April 4, 1983 at 6:30 PM
Replay
Mission details
The Space Shuttle program was the fourth human spaceflight program carried out by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), which accomplished routine transportation for Earth-to-orbit crew and cargo from 1981 to 2011.
Apr 12, 1981 — Jul 8, 2011
Orbital Attempt
#2,673
ROI Mission
#5
Pad Launch
#18
Location Launch
#23
Designator
1983-026
Launch Window
NET
Apr 4, 1983, 6:30 PM
Schedule Changes
1 update
Space Shuttle Specs
The Space Shuttle is a retired, partially reusable low Earth orbital spacecraft system operated from 1981 to 2011 by the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) as part of the Space Shuttle program. Its official program name was Space Transportation System (STS). Five complete Space Shuttle orbiter vehicles were built and flown on a total of 135 missions from 1981 to 2011.
Length
56.1 m
Diameter
8 m
Launch Mass
2,030 t
Thrust
28,200 kN
LEO Capacity
27,500 kg
Launch Cost
$450M
Reusable
Yes
Maiden Flight
1981
Fastest Turnaround
15d 18h
Total Launches
135
Successful
133
Failed
2
Consecutive Success
22
Maiden flight: Apr 12, 1981
Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA
The John F. Kennedy Space Center, located on Merritt Island, Florida, is one of NASA's ten field centers. Since 1968, KSC has been NASA's primary launch center of American spaceflight, research, and technology. Launch operations for the Apollo, Skylab and Space Shuttle programs were carried out from Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39 and managed by KSC. Located on the east coast of Florida, KSC is adjacent to Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS).
Timezone
America/New_York
Local Launch Time
Apr 4, 1983, 1:30 PM
Total Launches
281
Total Landings
0
Coordinates
28.5242, -80.6508