Media Information

 
 
 
Collection:
NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day Collection
Title:
Liftoff of Space Shuttle Columbia
Explanation:
On April 12, 1981, space flight entered a new era with the first launch [ http://www.ksc.nasa…] of Space Shuttle Columbia [ http://www.ksc.nasa…], shown above. NASA's Space Shuttles land like a normal plane, carry a heavy cargo, carry a large crew, make use of cheap solid fuel, and are reusable. Previous to this flight, no manned orbiting space ship had ever landed on a runway. Space Shuttles now are the flagships and the workhorses of NASA's [ http://www.nasa.gov/] space going rockets.

For more information about NASA's Space Shuttle missions, see the NASA Space Shuttle Launches page [ http://www.ksc.nasa…].

Tomorrow's picture: Night Launch of Endeavour
Credit and Copyright:
NASA, Kennedy Space Center
facet_when:
April 12, 1981
facet_where:
Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC)
facet_where:
Kennedy Space Center (KSC)
facet_what:
Space Shuttle
facet_what:
Columbia
facet_what:
Space Shuttle Orbiter
facet_when_year:
1981
original url:
UID:
SPD-APOD-ap950806

Liftoff of Space Shuttle Columbia