STS-8 first night shuttle launch & landing (8-30-83)

[Cellmate412162]

I don't know if anyone else knows this, but STS-8 actually came close to tragedy. If I remember correctly, one of the boosters nozzle linings had eroded excessively. The resin used for the lining should have been tested on the ground before being used in actual flight.

[GaryW48]

@Cellmate412162 After the Challenger accident in January 1986, Jay Barbree of NBC News had a follow up story about this very launch and how the nozzle had eroded badly.

[Cellmate412162]

@GaryW48 Oh, I was complately unaware of that. Thanks for telling me.

[ceredigio]

Truly at 1.39 - 'roger Houston, we're looking at the moon directly overhead'

[ceredigio]

This was the first launch Mark Hess did - with this he became the youngest person to give a shuttle countdown.