WIKIARCHIVES.SPACE

The Space Shuttle Challenger blasted off at noon EDT from the launch pad at Complex 39, Kennedy Space Center. Inside the spacecraft was a record 8 crewmembers: astronauts Henry W. Hartsfield, Jr., Steven R. Nagel, Bonnie J. Dunbar, James F. Buchli, Guion S. Bluford, Jr., along with payload specialists Wubbo J. Ockels, Reinhard Furrer and Ernst Messerschmid. Within hours of this photo, the Spacelab D-1 Science Module was activated and crew members were busy performing experiments.