STS-8

STS-8 was the third flight of Space Shuttle Challenger and the first Shuttle mission to launch and land at night. Richard Truly, Daniel Brandenstein, Guion Bluford, Dale Gardner, and William Thornton launched from Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A on August 30, 1983. The mission deployed India's INSAT-1B communications and weather satellite using a Payload Assist Module-D, tested the Canadian-built Remote Manipulator System with the Payload Flight Test Article, and continued experiments on space adaptation, materials, radiation, electrophoresis, and animal research. Guion Bluford became the first African American to fly in space during the mission. Challenger landed at Edwards Air Force Base on September 5 after 98 orbits and just over six days in space.