STS-41G

Occurred 40 years ago

The 13th flight of the Space Shuttle program, STS-41G, was notable for many firsts and records. It was the first flight to include two women, Ride and Sullivan. Sullivan was the first American woman to walk in space.

Space Shuttle

Challenger

mission duration

8 days, 5 hours, 23 minutes, 38 seconds

Launch

October 5, 1984

Landing

October 13, 1984

The Space Shuttle Challenger carried these seven astronauts into space for NASA’s STS-41G mission. They are (bottom row, left to right) Pilot Jon A. McBride, and Sally K. Ride, Kathryn D. Sullivan and David C. Leestma — all mission specialists. Commander Robert L. Crippen is flanked by Paul D. Scully-Power and Marc Garneau, payload specialists. Scully-Power was an oceanographer for the U.S. Navy and Garneau represented the National Research Council (Canada). The replica of a gold astronaut pin near McBride signifies unity. The group represented the largest space shuttle crew thus far. (20 July 1984)

NASA

STS-41G Mission Facts

Mission: Earth Radiation Budget Satellite, Office of Space and Terrestrial Applications-3
Space Shuttle: Challenger
Launch Pad: 39A
Launch Weight: 242,780 pounds
Launched: October 5, 1984 at 7:03:00 a.m. EDT
Landing Site: Kennedy Space Center, Florida
Landing: October 13, 1984 at 12:26:38 p.m. EDT
Landing Weight: 202,266 pounds
Runway: 33
Rollout Distance: 10,565 feet
Rollout Time: 54 seconds
Revolution: 133
Mission Duration: 8 days, 5 hours, 23 minutes, 38 seconds
Orbit Altitude: 218 nautical miles
Orbit Inclination: 57 degrees
Miles Traveled: 3.3 million

Crew

Robert L. Crippen, Commander

Jon A. McBride, Pilot

David C. Leestma, Mission Specialist

Sally K. Ride, Mission Specialist

Kathryn D. Sullivan, Mission Specialist

Paul D. Scully-Power, Payload Specialist

Marc Garneau, Payload Specialist

Mission Highlights

This was the first flight to include two women, Ride and Sullivan. Sullivan was the first American woman to walk in space. The Earth Radiation Budget Satellite (ERBS) was deployed less than nine hours into the flight. The Office of Space and Terrestrial Applications-3 (OSTA-3) carried three experiments in the payload bay. Components of Orbital Refueling System (ORS) were connected, demonstrating it is possible to refuel satellites in orbit. Other Payloads were: Large Format Camera (LFC); IMAX Camera, flying for the third time; a package of Canadian Experiments (CANEX); Auroral Photography Experiment (APE); Radiation Monitoring Equipment (RME); Thermoluminiscent Dosimeter (TLD); and eight Get Away Specials.