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Images by Robert L. Crippen of Washington, D.C. and California
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STS-1: First Shuttle Launch
| Title |
STS-1: First Shuttle Launch |
| Explanation |
On April 12, 1981, twenty years ago today, the Space Shuttle Columbia [ http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/resources/orbiters/ columbia.html ] became the first shuttle [ http://www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/kscpao/shuttle/missions/ sts-1/mission-sts-1.html ] to orbit the Earth. In this gorgeous time exposure [ http://www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/kscpao/captions/bestofthebest/ 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.nasa.gov/kscpao/nasafact/ padstoc.htm ] Pad A at Kennedy Space Center in preparation for first launch. Flown by [ http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/technology/sts-newsref/ 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.gov/sts1/index.html ], which ended in a smooth landing, airplane-style, at Edwards Air Force Base [ http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/PAO/PressReleases/ 2001/01-21.html ] in California. Ferried back to Kennedy by a modified Boeing 747 [ http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/PAO/PAIS/HTML/ FS-013-DFRC.html ], Columbia was launched again seven months later on STS-2 [ http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/missions/sts-2/ 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.nasa.gov/shuttle/resources/orbiters/ challenger.html ] in 1982 (destroyed [ http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/missions/51-l/ mission-51-l.html ] in 1986), Discovery [ http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/resources/orbiters/ discovery.html ] in 1983, Atlantis [ http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/resources/orbiters/ atlantis.html ] in 1985, and Challenger's replacement Endeavour [ http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/resources/orbiters/ endeavour.html ] in 1991. This shuttle fleet has now accomplished [ http://www.spaceflight.nasa.gov/shuttle/ ] over 100 orbital missions. Today also marks the 40th anniversary [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap960412.html ] of the first human in space, Yuri Gagarin [ http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/space_level2/ gagarin.html ]. |
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STS 41-C Challenger crew dec
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| Title |
STS 41-C Challenger crew decends from orbiter at landing site |
| Description |
The STS 41-C Challenger crew decends from the orbiter at Edwards Air Force Base, California. They are (bottom to top) Astronauts Robert L. Crippen, crew commander, Francis R. (Dick) Scobee, pilot, and James D. van Hoften, George D. Nelson and Terry J. Hart, all mission specialists. |
| Date Taken |
1984-04-13 |
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STS 41-C Challenger crew con
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| Title |
STS 41-C Challenger crew congratulates each other at landing site |
| Description |
The STS 41-C Challenger crew engages in a group congratulations after the landing of their mission. They are standing in front of the orbiter in a circle. They are (left to right around circle) Astronauts James D. van Hoften, mission specialist, Francis R. (Dick) scobee, pilot, Terry J. Hart and George D. Nelson, mission specialists, and Robert L. Crippen, crew commander. |
| Date Taken |
1984-04-13 |
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