where was the challenger supposed to go

The Space Shuttle Challenger, on its final mission STS-51-L in 1986, was set to launch into low Earth orbit from Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Mission Objectives

Its primary goals included deploying the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS-B) for NASA's communication network, observing Halley's Comet, and conducting experiments with the Teacher in Space Project featuring Christa McAuliffe.

• TDRS deployment: Crew would release and maneuver the satellite to about 200 feet for activation.

• Comet study: Use the SPARTAN-Halley's Comet science payload for UV imaging during a free-flight phase.

• Educational demos: McAuliffe planned live lessons on space phenomena for U.S. schoolchildren.

Tragically, the shuttle exploded 73 seconds after liftoff due to O-ring failure in cold weather, before reaching any orbital phase.

Planned Orbit Details

Challenger aimed for a 28.5-degree inclination orbit at around 320-350 km altitude, lasting about six days with multiple Earth orbits daily.

TL;DR: Low Earth orbit for satellite deployment, comet observations, and teacher experiments—never achieved due to early breakup.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.