STS-4 was the fourth and final orbital test flight of the Space Shuttle, the last mission before NASA declared the system operational. Columbia launched on June 27, 1982, with Ken Mattingly and Henry Hartsfield aboard, and landed on July 4, 1982, at Edwards Air Force Base, where President Reagan was on hand to greet the crew.
The flight closed out the orbital test program that STS-1 had begun, carrying the first Department of Defense payload and a series of engineering tests that helped clear the Shuttle for routine operations.
The spacearchive.ai STS-4 collection brings together 14 records from the mission, including launch coverage, landing coverage, and status briefings.
Preserved together, they form a searchable primary-source record of the mission for researchers, historians, and producers.
A working snapshot of what the collection holds today. The public catalog shows descriptive metadata; full media and transcripts are available through research access.
All records in this collection
This recording features the launch coverage of STS-4, highlighting the terminal countdown that includes a 10-minute hold at T-minus 20 minutes. Key ascent milestones include liftoff, solid rocket booster separation, and main engine cutoff (MECO). Notably, this mission marks the first time a shuttle carries a military payload, with significant commentary on the implications of this shift in mission focus.
KSC - STS-4 Launch: Various Engineering Camera Locations During Ignition and Liftoff
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This recording captures the landing coverage of Space Shuttle Columbia at Edwards Air Force Base, marking the conclusion of its test flight series. Notably, President Ronald Reagan delivered remarks celebrating the mission, emphasizing the significance of this fourth landing. The astronauts, Ken Mattingly and Hank Hartsfield, were present for the touchdown, which occurred after a successful seven-day mission that included 113 orbits of Earth.
This recording captures the launch coverage of STS-4, featuring a terminal countdown that includes a 10-minute hold at T-minus 20 minutes. Key ascent milestones include liftoff, solid rocket booster separation, and main engine cutoff (MECO) at T-minus 12 seconds. The commentary highlights the preparations and atmosphere at the Kennedy Space Center, with notable mentions of the weather conditions and the crew's readiness for launch.
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This recording captures the launch coverage of STS-4, featuring the terminal countdown that includes a 10-minute hold at T-minus 20 minutes. Key ascent milestones include liftoff, solid rocket booster separation at 2 minutes 14 seconds, and confirmation of the roll maneuver at 26 seconds. Notably, the crew members Ken Mattingly and Henry Hartsfield are highlighted as they prepare for launch, with commentary on the successful resolution of an elevator issue prior to the countdown.
This recording features the landing coverage of Space Shuttle Columbia at Edwards Air Force Base, with an unofficial landing time of 7 days, 1 hour, 9 minutes, and 40 seconds. President Ronald Reagan delivered remarks celebrating the significance of this fourth landing, likening it to the driving of the Golden Spike for the transcontinental railroad. Astronauts T.K. Mattingly and Hank Hartsfield expressed gratitude for the mission and highlighted the importance of teamwork in space exploration.
This STS-4 status briefing, occurring T minus 1 day, 16 hours before launch, reports on the rollout of the orbiter at 7:09 AM and the completion of the shuttle interface test without significant issues. Al O'Hara discusses a circuit breaker trip in engine number two's controller, which is under investigation but not considered a constraint for the countdown demonstration test scheduled for 8:40 PM. The briefing also highlights the upcoming cryo loading test set for June 2 at 2:00 PM.
This STS-4 status briefing, occurring T minus 1 day, 16 hours before launch, reports the completion of the PRSD LO2 and LH2 cryo loads for flight. Bob Webster notes that the solid rocket boosters are closed out for flight, with power brought up for an instrumentation scan. The briefing also discusses the weather's impact on tanking operations and confirms that no significant issues arose during the previous 14-hour hold.
This STS-4 status briefing, occurring T minus 1 day, 16 hours before launch, highlights the completion of the weight and balance test, with the orbiter's inert weight reported at 172,076 pounds. Al O'Hara discusses a circuit breaker trip in engine number two's controller, which is under investigation but not deemed a constraint for the countdown demonstration test scheduled for 8:40 PM. The briefing also confirms the upcoming cryo loading test set for June 2 at 2:00 PM.
This recording captures a briefing on shuttle status prior to STS-4, highlighting the rollout at 7:09 AM after a successful weight and balance test. Al O'Hara discusses troubleshooting a circuit breaker issue in engine number two, which occurred at 2:00 AM, and reassures that it will not affect the countdown demonstration test scheduled for 8:40 PM. The team is also preparing for a cryo loading test on June 2, which is a critical milestone for the upcoming launch.
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