JSC 830 - (1983) - 28 1/2 Minutes - The first four operational missions of the Space Transportation System (STS) - flights STS-5, 6, 7, and 8 - are covered. The common denominator of these missions, satellite deployment, is stressed. Also included are some of the more important onboard experiments and the significant secondary achievements, such as EVA's, first female astronaut (Sally K. Ride), first black astronaut (Guion S. Bluford, Jr.), first night launch (STS-8), and first night landing (STS-8).
This is a NASA history documentary on the early operational missions of the space transportation system (space shuttle). This 30 minute program covers the four flights after the orbiter flight test program (STS-1 through STS-4) was completed. STS-5 featured the first deployment of commercial satellites from the space shuttle. STS-6 was the first launch of shuttle Challenger. STS-7 saw Sally Ride become the first American female astronaut fly in space. STS-8 was the first night launch and landing of the space shuttle and Guion Bluford was the first African-American to fly in space.