Space Shuttle Orbiter OV-099 CHALLENGER was named after the HMS CHALLENGER, an English research ship that operated from December 1872 to June 1876. It explored the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. One of its main discoveries was the Mid-Atlantic ridge with its hills and valleys. The CHALLENGER was originaly a Navy vessel, but for its research mission the weapons were removed except for two 64 lb. guns. The crew of Apollo-17 called their Lunar Module CHALLENGER.
Orbiter CHALLENGER (STA-099) milestones:
Contract award: 26 July 1972 Start assembly crew module(*): 21 November 1975 Start assembly aft-fuselage: 14 June 1976 Wings arrive from Grumman at Palmdale: 16 March 1977 Start final assembly: 20 September 1977 Final assembly complete: 10 February 1978 Roll-out at Palmdale: 14 February 1978 Transport from Palmdale to Edwards: -- Delivery to KSC: -- Flight Readiness Firing: -- First space flight: -- (*)STA-099 had a simulated crew module
Orbiter CHALLENGER (OV-099) milestones:
OV-099 was made out of Structural Test Article 099
Contract award: 05 January 1979 Start assembly crew module: 28 January 1979 Start assembly aft-fuselage: -- Wings arrive from Grumman at Palmdale: -- Start final assembly: 03 November 1980 Final assembly complete: 23 October 1981 Roll-out at Palmdale: 30 June 1982 Transport from Palmdale to Edwards: 01 July 1982 Delivery to KSC: 05 July 1982 Flight Readiness Firing(**): 19 December 1982 First Space flight: 04 April 1983 Last Space flight: STS-51L, January 1986(**)First Flight Readiness Firing was on pad 39A and the duration was 20 seconds.
The seccond Flight Readiness Firing was on 25 January 1983 also on pad 39A, with a duration of 22 seconds.
MISSIONS:
FLIGHT LAUNCH LANDING DURATION
STS-6 APRIL 4, 1983 APRIL 9, 1983 5 days-23 min
42 sec.
STS-7 JUNE 18, 1983 JUNE 24, 1983 6 days, 2 hrs
23 min. 59 sec
STS-8 AUGUST 30, 1983 SEPTEMBER 5, 1983 6 days, 1 hr.
8 min. 40 sec.
STS-41B FEBRUARY 3, 1984 FEBRUARY 11, 1984 7 days, 23 hrs
15 min. 55 sec
STS-41C APRIL 6, 1984 APRIL 13, 1984 6 days, 23 hrs
40 min. 5 sec.
STS-41G OCTOBER 5, 1984 OCTOBER 13, 1984 8 days, 5 hrs.
23 min. 33 sec
STS-51B APRIL 29, 1985 MAY 6, 1985 7 days, 8 min.
50 sec.
STS-51F JULY 29, 1985 AUGUST 5, 1985 7 days, 22 hrs
45 min. 27 sec
STS-61A OCTOBER 30, 1985 NOVEMBER 6, 1985 7 days, 44 min
51 sec.
STS-51L JANUARY 28, 1986 73 sec. (?)
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