The first (STS-1) of four orbital test flights occurred in 1981, leading to operational flights (STS-5) beginning in 1982. Five complete Space Shuttle orbiter vehicles were built and flown on a total …

The first mission of the space transport system (STS-1) or Space Shuttle, flew on April 12, 1981, ending a long hiatus in American space flight. The last Apollo lunar mission flew in December …

Apr 12, 2021 · The legacy of the Space Shuttle program was to some degree built around the results of its very first mission. The reusable spaceplane, the Space Shuttle, ushered in a new …

On April 12, 1981, astronauts John Young and Bob Crippen launched space shuttle Columbia from Kennedy Space Center. This launch was the first time that astronauts would be aboard a …

Dec 2, 2025 · Space shuttle, partially reusable rocket-launched vehicle designed to go into orbit around Earth, to transport people and cargo to and from orbiting spacecraft, and to glide to a …

Jul 28, 2025 · On April 12, 1981, a new chapter in human spaceflight began as the Space Shuttle Columbia lifted off from Kennedy Space Center. This was not just another launch; it was the …

STS-1 (Space Transportation System -1) was the first orbital spaceflight of NASA 's Space Shuttle program. The first orbiter, Columbia, launched on April 12, 1981, and returned on April 14, …

Back on April 12, 1981, the space shuttle roared to life for the first time. Columbia lifted off from Kennedy Space Center carrying two astronauts – a moonwalker, John Young, and a rookie, …

On April 12, 1981, Space Shuttle Columbia roared into the sky, carrying astronauts John Young and Robert Crippen. This mission, known as STS-1, was the first time a reusable spacecraft …

Nov 19, 2025 · From the first launch on April 12, 1981 to the final landing on July 21, 2011, NASA’s space shuttle fleet flew 135 missions. In this collection of historical resources, …