[SHUTTLE COLUMBIA (STS-8)] THE LAUNCH OF STS-8. VINTAGE NASA PHOTOGRAPH, 30 AUGUST 1983.

The Vintage NASA Photo Collection of Philip Kulpa

[SHUTTLE COLUMBIA (STS-8)] 

THE LAUNCH OF STS-8. 30 AUGUST 1983.

Vintage NASA chromogenic color photograph, 10 by 8 inches, “This Paper Manufactured by Kodak” watermark, press captions printed in purple to verso, with NASA image ID “108-KSC-83PC-652”; minor toning, pencil and pen annotations to verso.

A dramatic image of STS-8 illuminating the predawn sky as it lifted off. This was the first mission of the Shuttle era to launch at night. Crew members included: Commander Richard Truly, Pilot Daniel Brandenstein, and Mission Specialists Guion Bluford, Dale Gardner, and William Thornton. Bluford, and aerospace engineer and former fighter pilot, was the first African-American astronaut.