1984: STS-41B Challenger (NASA)

STS-41-B was the tenth space shuttle mission, and the fourth flight for Challenger. Following STS-9, the flight numbering system for Space Shuttle missions was changed. Thus, the next flight, instead of being designated STS-11, became STS 41-B. STS-10 was cancelled due to payload delays.

It launched on 3 February 1984 and landed on 11 February 1984.

Two communications satellites were deployed about 8 hours after launch.One was for Western Union (WESTAR) and the other for Indonesia (Palapa B-2). However, the Payload Assist Modules (PAM) for both satellites malfunctioned placing them into a lower than planned orbit. Both satellites were retrieved successfully the following November during STS-51-A, the 14th mission, by the orbiter Discovery.

The new numbering system was designed to be more specific in that the first numeral stood for the fiscal year offset into the shuttle program, the "4" being 1984. The second numeral represented the launch site; 1 for KSC, and 2 for Vandenberg AFB, Calif. (the latter was never used). The letter represented the order of launch assignment, "B" was the second launch scheduled in that fiscal year. (Following the Challenger accident, NASA reestablished the original numerical numbering system).

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• iaf
• 1984
• space
• shuttle
• challenger
• nasa
• sts-41B

[cosmictodd]

I saw this launch - my only first-hand witness of a rocket launch. I was a senior in high school in Durham, NC, and went on a field trip with about 20 classmates to see it. Ron McNair, who flew on this flight, later spoke at our graduation ceremony that year, and tragically perished two years later when the same shuttle exploded after lift-off. It was an unforgettable experience.

[MultiTakeDown]

Thanks for posting this,even though I was familier with this flight,I still learned a heck of a lot !

[jeffdon4]

was ron mcnair actually narriating this>