STS 51-C (NASA) The Space Transportation System (STS) mission 51-C, launched by NASA on January 24, 1985, was the tenth flight of space shuttle Challenger. This mission aimed to deploy three satellites: the first Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS-1), the Solid-State Multi-channel Active Memories (S-MAM) satellite, and the Solar Maximum Mission (SMM) satellite. The nine-day mission began with the launch from Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 39B in Florida, U.S.A. Following a successful deployment of the satellites, the crew performed various scientific experiments before returning to Earth on February 1st, landing at Edwards Air Force Base in California. The mission's crew consisted of seven astronauts: Commander Robert L. Crippen, Pilot Frederick H. Hauck, Mission Specialists John M. Creighton, Kathryn D. Sullivan (the first American woman to perform a spacewalk), Judith A. Resnik, and payload specialists Sally Ride and Norman E. Thagard. The success of STS 51-C marked significant advancements in satellite deployment capabilities and furthered the exploration of space through NASA's Space Shuttle Program.
