The orbiter Challenger became the workhorse of the space fleet, completing 87 earth orbits and logging more than 69 cumulative days in space. Taken on May 6, 1985, the interesting ...

Congress authorized NASA to replace the Space Shuttle Challenger, which was lost shortly after liftoff in 1986. NASA used spare parts from its shuttle fleet to create the new orbiter. Endeavour ...

Icons of space flight they undoubtedly are, but the shuttle programme has been marked by very public tragedy. On 28 January 1986, Challenger was set to carry the first American civilian into space.