Launch of the shuttle Challenger begining of the STS 61-A mission

61A-S-018 (30 Oct 1985) --- A record-sized crew of eight persons is lifted toward Earth-orbit as the space shuttle Challenger blasts from the launch pad at Complex 39, Kennedy Space Center (KSC), Florida. Almost all the service structure/gantry is obscured by smoke resulting from the boosters' firing. Inside the spacecraft are astronauts Henry W. Hartsfield, Jr., Steven R. Nagel, Bonnie J. Dunbar, James F. Buchli, Guion S. Bluford, Jr., along with payload specialists Wubbo J. Ockels, Reinhard Furrer and Ernst Messerschmid. Within hours of this photo, the Spacelab D-1 Science Module was activated and crew members were busy performing experiments. Launch occurred at noon (EST), Oct. 30, 1985. Photo credit: NASA