<P> STS - 26 was the 26th NASA Space Shuttle mission and the seventh flight of the orbiter Discovery . The mission launched from Kennedy Space Center , Florida , on 29 September 1988 , and landed four days later on 3 October . STS - 26 was declared the `` Return to Flight '' mission , being the first mission after the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster of 28 January 1986 . It was the first mission since STS - 9 to use the original STS numbering system , the first to have all its crew members wear pressure suits for launch and landing since STS - 4 , and the first mission with bailout capacity since STS - 4 . STS - 26 was also the first all - veteran crew mission since Apollo 11 , with all of its crew members having flown at least one prior mission . </P>
<P> STS - 26 was the 26th NASA Space Shuttle mission and the seventh flight of the orbiter Discovery . The mission launched from Kennedy Space Center , Florida , on 29 September 1988 , and landed four days later on 3 October . STS - 26 was declared the `` Return to Flight '' mission , being the first mission after the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster of 28 January 1986 . It was the first mission since STS - 9 to use the original STS numbering system , the first to have all its crew members wear pressure suits for launch and landing since STS - 4 , and the first mission with bailout capacity since STS - 4 . STS - 26 was also the first all - veteran crew mission since Apollo 11 , with all of its crew members having flown at least one prior mission . </P>
when did us space program resumes after challenger tragedy
when did us space program resumes after challenger tragedy
29 September 1988
29 September 1988