Collection:
NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day Collection Collection NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day Collection Collection
Title:
STS-1: First Shuttle Launch Title STS-1: First Shuttle Launch Title
Explanation:
On April 12, 1981, twenty years ago today, the Space Shuttle Columbia [ http://science.ksc.…columbia.html ] became the first shuttle [ http://www-pao.ksc.…sts-1/mission-sts-1. html ] to orbit the Earth. In this gorgeous time exposure [ http://www-pao.ksc.…ksc-81pc-0136.htm ], flood lights play on the Columbia and service structures (left) as it rests atop Complex 39's [ http://www-pao.ksc.…padstoc.htm ] Pad A at Kennedy Space Center in preparation for first launch. Flown by [ http://science.ksc.…stsref-toc.html ] Commander John W. Young and Pilot Robert L. Crippen, Columbia spent 2 days aloft on its check-out mission, STS-1 [ http://history.nasa…], which ended in a smooth landing, airplane-style, at Edwards Air Force Base [ http://www.dfrc.nas…2001/01-21.html ] in California. Ferried back to Kennedy by a modified Boeing 747 [ http://www.dfrc.nas…FS-013-DFRC.html ], Columbia was launched again seven months later on STS-2 [ http://science.ksc.…mission-sts-2.html ], becoming the first piloted reuseable orbiter. The oldest operating shuttle, Columbia's 1981 debut was followed by shuttles Challenger [ http://science.ksc.…challenger.html ] in 1982 (destroyed [ http://science.ksc.…mission-51-l.html ] in 1986), Discovery [ http://science.ksc.…discovery.html ] in 1983, Atlantis [ http://science.ksc.…atlantis.html ] in 1985, and Challenger's replacement Endeavour [ http://science.ksc.…endeavour.html ] in 1991. This shuttle fleet has now accomplished [ http://www.spacefli…] over 100 orbital missions. Today also marks the 40th anniversary [ http://antwrp.gsfc.…] of the first human in space, Yuri Gagarin [ http://starchild.gs…gagarin.html ]. Explanation On April 12, 1981, twenty years ago today, the Space Shuttle Columbia [ http://science.ksc.…columbia.html ] became the first shuttle [ http://www-pao.ksc.…sts-1/mission-sts-1. html ] to orbit the Earth. In this gorgeous time exposure [ http://www-pao.ksc.…ksc-81pc-0136.htm ], flood lights play on the Columbia and service structures (left) as it rests atop Complex 39's [ http://www-pao.ksc.…padstoc.htm ] Pad A at Kennedy Space Center in preparation for first launch. Flown by [ http://science.ksc.…stsref-toc.html ] Commander John W. Young and Pilot Robert L. Crippen, Columbia spent 2 days aloft on its check-out mission, STS-1 [ http://history.nasa…], which ended in a smooth landing, airplane-style, at Edwards Air Force Base [ http://www.dfrc.nas…2001/01-21.html ] in California. Ferried back to Kennedy by a modified Boeing 747 [ http://www.dfrc.nas…FS-013-DFRC.html ], Columbia was launched again seven months later on STS-2 [ http://science.ksc.…mission-sts-2.html ], becoming the first piloted reuseable orbiter. The oldest operating shuttle, Columbia's 1981 debut was followed by shuttles Challenger [ http://science.ksc.…challenger.html ] in 1982 (destroyed [ http://science.ksc.…mission-51-l.html ] in 1986), Discovery [ http://science.ksc.…discovery.html ] in 1983, Atlantis [ http://science.ksc.…atlantis.html ] in 1985, and Challenger's replacement Endeavour [ http://science.ksc.…endeavour.html ] in 1991. This shuttle fleet has now accomplished [ http://www.spacefli…] over 100 orbital missions. Today also marks the 40th anniversary [ http://antwrp.gsfc.…] of the first human in space, Yuri Gagarin [ http://starchild.gs…gagarin.html ]. Explanation
Credit and Copyright:
KSC [ http://www.ksc.nasa…], NASA [ http://www.nasa.gov/] Credit_and_Copyright KSC [ http://www.ksc.nasa…], NASA [ http://www.nasa.gov/] Credit and Copyright
keyword:
space shuttle keyword space shuttle keyword
keyword:
columbia keyword columbia keyword
facet_who:
Yuri Gagarin facet_who Yuri Gagarin facet_who
facet_who:
Robert L. Crippen facet_who Robert L. Crippen facet_who
facet_when:
1991 facet_when 1991 facet_when
facet_when:
1983 facet_when 1983 facet_when
facet_when:
1986 facet_when 1986 facet_when
facet_when:
1982 facet_when 1982 facet_when
facet_when:
1985 facet_when 1985 facet_when
facet_when:
April 12, 1981 facet_when April 12, 1981 facet_when
facet_where:
California facet_where California facet_where
facet_where:
Edwards Air Force Base facet_where Edwards Air Force Base facet_where
facet_where:
Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) facet_where Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) facet_where
facet_where:
Washington, D.C. facet_where Washington, D.C. facet_where
facet_where:
Kennedy Space Center (KSC) facet_where Kennedy Space Center (KSC) facet_where
facet_what:
Earth facet_what Earth facet_what
facet_what:
Challenger facet_what Challenger facet_what
facet_what:
DEBUT facet_what DEBUT facet_what
facet_what:
Columbia facet_what Columbia facet_what
facet_what:
Space Shuttle Orbiter facet_what Space Shuttle Orbiter facet_what
facet_when_year:
1986 facet_when_year 1986 facet_when_year
facet_when_year:
1991 facet_when_year 1991 facet_when_year
facet_when_year:
1981 facet_when_year 1981 facet_when_year
facet_when_year:
1982 facet_when_year 1982 facet_when_year
facet_when_year:
1985 facet_when_year 1985 facet_when_year
facet_when_year:
1983 facet_when_year 1983 facet_when_year
original url:
http://antwrp.gsfc.… original_url http://antwrp.gsfc.… original url
UID:
SPD-APOD-ap010412 UID SPD-APOD-ap010412 UID

STS-1: First Shuttle Launch

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STS-1: First Shuttle Launch