Launch from Cape Canaveral (KSC); landing in Cape Canaveral (KSC).

Challenger carried out the first crew of seven astronauts and it was the first Shuttle mission to include two woman. Kathryn Sullivan became the first American woman to walk in space.

On Flight Day 1 the Earth Radiation Budget Satellite (ERBS) was deployed from the payload bay by the RMS arm, and its on-board thrusters boosted it into an orbit 350 miles (563 km) above the Earth. ERBS was the first of three planned satellites designed to measure the amount of energy received from the sun and reradiated into space. It also studied the seasonal movement of energy from the tropics to the polar regions.

Components of Orbital Refueling System (ORS) were connected in an EVA by Kathryn Sullivan and David Leestma on October 11, 1984 (3h 30m), demonstrating that it is possible to refuel satellites in orbit.

Scientific observations of the Earth with the Office of Space and Terrestrial Apllications-3 OSTA-3 pallet and Large Format Camera (LFC) were performed as experiments in physics and biology. Other Payloads were: IMAX Camera, flying for third time; package of Canadian Experiments (CANEX); Auroral Photography Experiment (APE); Radiation Monitoring Equipment (RME); Thermoluminiscent Dosimeter (TLD); and eight Get Away Specials. Film from the mission (including Kathryn Sullivan and David Leestmas EVA) appeared in the IMAX movie The Dream is Alive.

Marc Garneau, the first Canadian in Space, conducted experiments sponsored by the Canadian government, called CANEX, which were related to medical, atmospheric, climatic, materials and robotic sciences.