Space Shuttle Challenger - Definition and Overview

Shuttle Orbiter Challenger (NASA Orbiter Vehicle Designation: OV-99) was a Space Shuttle orbiter. Challenger was the second shuttle orbiter to be placed into service (after Columbia) and was constructed using a body frame (STA-099) that had initially been produced for use as a test article. Its maiden voyage was on April 4, 1983, and made eight subsequent round trips to low earth orbit before it was destroyed during launch for its tenth mission, mission 51-L, on January 28, 1986. It is one of two space shuttles destroyed in an accident during a mission, the other being the Space Shuttle Columbia.

Flights

Challenger's rollout from Orbiter Processing Facility (OPF) to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). Photo courtesy of NASA

Space Shuttle Challenger flew 10 flights, spent 62.41-days in space, completed 995 orbits, and flew 25,803,940 miles in total, including its final mission.

Related articles

• Space Shuttle Challenger disaster
• Shuttle Buran
• List of space shuttle missions

External links

• Orbiter Vehicles (http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/resources/orbiters/orbiters.html)
• Shuttle Orbiter Challenger (OV-99) (http://www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/resources/orbiters/Challenger.html)
• Rogers Commission Report (http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/missions/51-l/docs/rogers-commission/table-of-contents.html)
• Astronautix on Challenger (http://www.astronautix.com/craft/chaenger.htm)