STS-6

First flight of space shuttle Challenger. First space walk of Shuttle program. Deployed Tracking and Data Relay Satellite.

NASA Official Mission Narrative

Mission Name: STS-6 (6)
CHALLENGER (1)
Pad 39-A (18)
6th Shuttle mission
1st Flight OV-099
1st Shuttle from MLP-2
1st Launch Light Weight External Tank

Crew:
Paul J. Weitz (2), Commander
Karol J. Bobko (1), Pilot
Donald H. Peterson (1), Mission Specialist
F. Story Musgrave (1), Mission Specialist

Milestones:
OPF - July 6, 1982
VAB - Nov. 23, 1982
PAD - Nov. 30, 1982

Payload:
TDRS-A,CFES(2),MLR/NOSL(1),GAS(x3)
Mission Objectives:

Launch:
April 4, 1983, 1:30:00 p.m. EST. Launch set for Jan. 20 postponed due to hydrogen leak into number one main engine aft compartment discovered during 20 second Flight Readiness Firing (FRF) Dec. 18, 1982. Cracks in number one main engine confirmed to be cause of leak during second FRF performed Jan. 25, 1983. All three main engines removed while Shuttle was on the pad and fuel line cracks repaired. Main engines two and three reinstalled following extensive failure analysis and testing. Number one main engine replaced. Additional delay caused by contamination to Tracking and Data Relay Satellite-1 (TDRS-1) during a severe storm. Launch on April 4 proceeded as scheduled. Launch Weight: 256,744 lbs.
Orbit:
Altitude: 178nm
Inclination: 28.5 degrees
Orbits: 81
Duration: 5 days, 2 hours, 14 minutes, 25 seconds
Distance: 2,094,293 miles

Hardware:
SRB: BI-006
SRM: 006LW(SPM)
ET : 8/LWT-1
MLP : 2
SSME-1: SN-2017
SSME-2: SN-2015
SSME-3: SN-2012

Landing:
April 9, 1983, 10:53:42 a.m. PST, Runway 22, Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. Rollout distance 7,180 feet, Rollout time 49 sec. Orbiter returned to KSC April 16, 1983. Landing Weight: 190,330 lbs.

Mission Highlights:
Primary payload was first Tracking and Data Relay Satellite-1
(TDRS-1). Malfunction of Inertial Upper Stage booster resulted in
placement of spacecraft into improper but stable orbit. Additional
propellant aboard satellite used over next several months gradually
place TDRS-1 into properly circularized orbit. First space walk
of Shuttle program performed by Peterson and Musgrave, lasting
about four hours, 17 minutes. Other payloads: Continuous Flow
Electrophoresis System (CFES), Monodisperse Latex Reactor (MLR)
(MLR), Radiation Monitoring Experiment (RME). Night/Day Optical
Survey of Lightning (NOSL), and three Get Away Special canisters.
Mission used first lightweight external tank and lightweight
rocket booster casings.