STS-61-C
STS-61-C was the 24th mission of NASA's Space Shuttle program, and the seventh mission of Space Shuttle Columbia. It was the first time that Columbia, the first space-rated Space Shuttle orbiter to be constructed, had flown since STS-9. The mission launched from Florida's Kennedy Space Center on January 12, 1986, and landed six days later on January 18, 1986. STS-61-C's seven-person crew included the first Costa Rican-born astronaut, Franklin Chang-Díaz, the second African-American shuttle pilot, Charles Bolden, and the second sitting politician to fly in space, Rep. Bill Nelson (D-FL). Both Bolden and Nelson would also later go on to become Administrators of NASA. STS-61-C was the last shuttle mission before the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster, which occurred ten days after STS-61-C's landing.
- Program
- Space Shuttle program
- Launch
- Jan 12, 1986
- Return
- Jan 18, 1986
- Duration
- 6 days
- Outcome
- Success
Crew
- 🇺🇸 Charles Bolden —
- 🇺🇸 Robert J. Cenker —
- 🇨🇷 Franklin Chang-Díaz —
- 🇺🇸 Robert L. Gibson —
- 🇺🇸 Steven Hawley —
- 🇺🇸 Bill Nelson —
- 🇺🇸 George Nelson —