Editing STS-6 (section)

== Mission summary ==
On April 4, 1983, STS-6, the first mission of the orbiter ''Challenger'', lifted off from [[Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A|Launch Complex 39A]] at the [[Kennedy Space Center]] at 18:30:00{{nbsp}}[[Coordinated Universal Time|UTC]] (1:30{{nbsp}}pm{{nbsp}}[[Eastern Standard Time|EST]], local time at the launch site). It marked the first use of a new lightweight [[Space Shuttle External Tank|external tank]] and lightweight [[Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Booster]] (SRB) casings, first use of the [[head-up display]], and first [[extravehicular activity]] (EVA) in the [[Space Shuttle program]].<ref name="missionsummary">{{cite web |date=February 11, 2015 |title=Space Shuttle Mission Summary |url=https://sma.nasa.gov/SignificantIncidents/assets/space-shuttle-missions-summary.pdf |publisher=NASA Johnson Space Center}} {{PD-notice}}</ref>

{{LaunchAttempt
| date1           = January 20, 1983, 13:30:00
| result1         = Postponed
| reason1         = Technical
| decision_date1  =
| decision_clock1 =
| weathergo1      =
| notes1          = [[Liquid hydrogen]] leak in aft compartment from engine 2011 (SSME #1) during FRF 1. Post-FRF 2 found crack in MCC of 2011. 2015 and 2012 had cracked ASI fuel lines. Replaced ASI lines in all three engines.<ref name=missionsummary/>

| date2           = April 4, 1983, 13:30:00
| result2         = Success
| reason2         =
| decision_date2  =
| decision_clock2 =
| weathergo2      =
| notes2          =
}}

STS-6 carried a crew of four – Commander Paul J. Weitz, Pilot Karol J. Bobko, Mission Specialist F. Story Musgrave and Mission Specialist Donald H. Peterson. Using new [[spacesuit]]s designed specifically for the Space Shuttle program, Musgrave and Peterson successfully accomplished the program's first [[extravehicular activity]] (EVA) on April 7–8, 1983, performing various tests in the orbiter's payload bay. Their spacewalk lasted 4{{nbsp}}hours and 17{{nbsp}}minutes and was the first American EVA since the last of [[Skylab 4]]'s four EVAs nearly a decade prior.

Although the {{cvt|2300|kg}} TDRS-A satellite was successfully deployed from ''Challenger'', its two-stage booster rocket, the [[Inertial Upper Stage]] (IUS), tumbled out of control, placing the satellite into a low [[elliptical orbit]]. However, the satellite contained extra propellant beyond what was needed for its [[Spacecraft attitude control|attitude control]] thrusters, and during the next several months, its thrusters were fired at carefully planned intervals, gradually moving TDRS-1 into its [[geosynchronous orbit|geosynchronous]] operating orbit, thus saving the US$100-million satellite. Other STS-6 payloads included three [[Getaway Special]] (GAS) canisters and the continuation of the Mono-disperse Latex Reactor and Continuous Flow Electrophoresis experiments.

''Challenger'' returned to Earth on April 9, 1983, coming to a stop on Runway{{nbsp}}22 at [[Edwards Air Force Base]] at 18:53:42{{nbsp}}UTC (10:53:42{{nbsp}}a.m.{{nbsp}}[[Pacific Standard Time|PST]], local time at the landing site). During the mission, it completed 81 orbits, traveling {{Convert|3200000|km|mi nmi|abbr=on}} in 5{{nbsp}}days, 23{{nbsp}}minutes, and 42{{nbsp}}seconds. It was flown back to KSC on April 16, 1983.