STS-8 was the eighth mission of NASA's Space Shuttle program and the third flight of the Space Shuttle Challenger. It was launched on August 30, 1983, and completed its mission on September 5, 1983.
The primary objectives of STS-8 were to deploy the Indian National Satellite (INSAT-1B) and to perform experiments in the areas of materials processing and Earth observations. The mission was also notable for being the first to include a black astronaut, Guion S. Bluford, Jr., who served as a mission specialist on the crew.
The STS-8 mission patch is a circular emblem that represents the mission and its crew. It typically includes the mission name, the names of the astronauts, and symbols or images that are relevant to the mission. The design of the STS-8 mission patch was created by the crew and approved by NASA. It is a tradition for each Space Shuttle mission to have its own unique mission patch, which is worn by the astronauts during the mission and is also used to promote the mission to the public.