First military space shuttle mission
- WHO
- STS-4
- WHAT
- First
- WHERE
- Not Applicable
- WHEN
- 27 June 1982
STS-4, the fourth US space shuttle mission, was the first to handle a military payload. It launched on 27 June 1982 and landed back on Earth on 4 July 1982. Its military payload, known as P82-1, consisted of two sensors designed to detect missile launches from space. Both sensors reportedly failed. Mission commander Ken Mattingly referred to the payload as “a rinky-dink collection of minor stuff they wanted to fly”.