SPACE SHUTTLE CHALLENGER - STS - 8 CREW - COMMEMORATIVE ENVELOPE SIGNED CO-SIGNED BY: CAPTAIN DANIEL C. BRANDENSTEIN, WILLIAM E. THORNTON, VICE ADMIRAL RICHARD H. TRULY, COLONEL GUION S. "GUY" BLUFORD JR., COMMANDER DALE A. GARDNER - HFSID 296013

SPACE SHUTTLE CHALLENGER: STS-8 MISSION
Commemorative Envelope signed by all five crew members: Truly, Brandenstein, Gardner, Bluford and Thornton
Commemorative Envelope signed: "Richard Truly", "Dan Brandenstein", "Dale Gardner", "Danon Bluford Jr.", "W Thornton", 6½x3½. Envelope postmarked Kennedy Space Center, August 30, 1983. Space shuttle mission STS-8, the eighth orbital flight and the third of 10 flights by Challenger, was launched from the Kennedy Space Center on August 30, 1983, landing September 5 at Edwards Air Force Base. The first American spaceflight to carry a black astronaut (Bluford), STS-8 was the first night take-off and night landing. The mission deployed an Indian communications and weather satellite and tested the new "Canadarm" remote manipulator system  The mission Commander, RICHARD TRULY (1937-2024), who had piloted the X-15, was among the first military astronauts selected in 1965 and became a NASA astronaut in 1969. Retired Vice Admiral Truly served as the eighth Administrator of NASA (1989-1992), the first former astronaut to do so. DANIEL BRANDENSTEIN (b. 1943) was pilot on Challenger STS-8  and commander of Discovery STS-51G (1985),Columbia STS-32 (1990) and Endeavor STS-49 (1992). With the completion of his fourth flight, Brandenstein logged over 789 hours in space on four different shuttles. A Navy flyer, Brandenstein had made two combat tours in Southeast Asia. Mission Specialist 1 DALE A. GARDNER (b. 1948) would return to space on Discovery STS 51-A (1984). During the 1984 flight, he completed two space walks totaling 12 hours and flew the Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU) backpack during the salvage operation. On this flight, Mission Specialist 2 GUION S. BLUFORD, Jr. (b. 1942) became the first Black American in space on this flight. Bluford returned to space aboard the Challenger on October 30-November 6, 1985, as a member of the first eight-person crew on the first German Spacelab 1-D mission; the Germans aboard conducted scientific experiments. He returned to space a third time on Discovery (April-May 1989 and December 2-9, 1992). Mission Specialist 3 WILLIAM E. THORNTON (1929-2021), a US Air Force flight surgeon, would make a second shuttle flight in 1985, but his greatest contributions may come from his work on the ground. He studied muscle loss and mass in space flight, an important discovery in the development of long-duration space flights, and has since developed equipment and procedures to combat this. Challenger disintegrated shortly after take-off on what would have been its tenth flight, with the loss of all seven crew members, on January 28, 1986. Fine condition.

See more material from these signers:

SPACE SHUTTLE CHALLENGER - STS - 8 CREW   COMMANDER DALE A. GARDNER   COLONEL GUION S. BLUFORD JR.   VICE ADMIRAL RICHARD H. TRULY   WILLIAM E. THORNTON   CAPTAIN DANIEL C. BRANDENSTEIN  

See more listings in our AVIATION & SPACE (1,115) category.

Our Third & Best Handbook - The One You Want On Historical Documents!
	Enhance your collecting experience. Add this definitive guide to historical documents to your autograph purchase. For the experienced and novice collector and for those who just love learning history this beautiful 253-page hardcover volume is for you! For more information visit our eBay Store and select the Autograph Handbook category or click here.

Take a look at over 35,000 other listings in these categories:

Actors & Actresses | Art & Architecture | Authors | Aviation & Space | Business & Finance | Explorers & Western Americana | Foriegn Leaders | Law & Order | Military | Music & Performers | Presidential | Religion & Humanitarians | Royalty | Science & Medicine | Sports | Supreme Court | U.S. Politicians |

Gallery of History is the world's largest dealer of authentic autographs and manuscripts. Our inventory contains documents in all areas of interest including presidents, royalty, military, aviation, religion, business, science, celebrities, sports, music, authors and more. Whether looking to add to your collection, acquire a unique centerpiece for the home or office, or as a truly one-of-a-kind gift for someone special, you'll find it here at HistoryForSale. Contact us today and let us assist you in finding that perfect piece.

The Gallery of History, founded in 1981, is a long-standing UACC Registered Dealer, #RD110, and is a long-standing member of the Manuscript Society. HistoryForSaletm: Gallery of History through HistoryForSale provides eBay users the ability to bid on and purchase from an inventory which has been collected over an amazing 43 year period. The Gallery of History is the largest dealer in the world with an available inventory that exceeds 230,000 rare autographs and manuscripts. Preserving historical documents is important to us. Your purchase comes to you appropriately protected. Our unframed items are sent to you either in acid-free archival sleeves or have been encapsulated when noted. The majority of our in-house framed items are also encapsulated in acid free sleeves to guard against organic acids, mounted in an acid-free enviroment and are framed behind glass or UF3-AR Plexiglas which blocks out most ultraviolet light. Authenticity: This item has been authenticated and is accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity issued by our parent company, Gallery of History, Inc. We financially stand behind our COA. Our commitment to authenticity and customer satisfaction are the reasons why we've been able to stay in business for so long (since 1981)! Ask us about our PSA/DNA and JSA authentication guarantee. Payment - Buyers will be sent payment instructions following their purchase. Customers are advised that they are responsible for payment of any international duties and/or taxes. Unless otherwise agreed to, complete payment is due within 24 hours of purchase.

Return Policy: If any substantial defect not described in the item listing is found by the purchaser, the item(s) must be returned within 3 days of receipt. Item(s) may not be returned except for reasons of authenticity or substantial defect in description. We warrant to the original purchaser for a period of ten (10) years from the date of the sale the authenticity of any autograph offered by HistoryForSale. This warranty is limited to a refund of the purchase price upon the return of the merchandise to our parent company Gallery of History in satisfactory condition. Gallery of History is not liable for any other damages, including consequential damages. There are no other warranties of any nature either expressed or implied, including but not limited to the warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. Please contact us for an authorization before returning any item(s). A merchandise credit will be issued in the case of an unresolved dispute over the condition of a returned item. Shipping - We ship via FedEx and USPS. Shipping charges for multiple orders are combined whenever possible. Due to the value of the items we sell, orders over $200 will require a signature for delivery. Please contact us in advance if this is an issue. For high-value items, this policy may also limit our ability to ship to a PO Box. All international shipments (destinations outside the U.S) will be sent via FedEx. Please feel free to contact us in advance for shipping charges - international customers are encouraged to do so.