The Explorers' Club, № DCCCXC

Operation AXIOM: The Space Age—The 40th Anniversary of the Space Shuttle Challenger
30 June 1982: The Space Shuttle Challenger OV-099 rolled out of the North American Rockwell factory in Palmdale, California; originally built as a test article (STA-099), it was less expensive to rebuild her as an Orbiter than the Enterprise OV-101; she flew ten missions from 1983-1986; the Challenger explosively disintegrated during ascent on her final flight, dooming her crew of seven.

Commentary: The Challenger rolled out of the factory while the Columbia was on orbit conducting S.T.S.-4. Heady days for the Space Shuttle program!

Bonus! Space Age Song o' the Day: The Space Shuttle Challenger
Mike Park, "Challenging Me" from For the Love of Music (Space Cadet Mike Papa Whiskey)

Semper exploro.