First Flight of Columbia

The STS-1 space shuttle launch team celebrates a successful liftoff of Columbia from Launch Pad 39A a few seconds past 7 a.m. The orbital mission ended with an unpowered landing at Edwards Air Force Base in California. Known as a shuttle systems test flight, STS-1 sought to demonstrate safe launch into orbit and safe return of the orbiter and crew and verify the combined performance of the entire shuttle vehicle — orbiter, solid rocket boosters and external tank. 

Liftoff!

After six years of silence, the thunder of manned space flight is heard again as the successful launch of the first space shuttle, Columbia, ushers in a new concept in utilization of space. The launch at Pad 39A, just seconds past 7 a.m., carried astronauts John Young and Robert Crippen into an Earth orbital mission that successfully ended with an unpowered landing at Edwards Air Force Base in California. 

unknownskywalker:

STS-1 Launch

On April 12, 1981, astronauts John Young and Bob Crippen launched into space on space shuttle Columbia on the STS-1 mission—NASA’s first mission aboard a reusable spacecraft. STS-1 was NASA’s first manned mission since the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project in 1975. In this image, the two solid rocket boosters are aglow after being jettisoned.

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11/22/1989

(Source: mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov)

(via Endeavour Flight by *markkarvon)

Blue mach diamonds signal the speed and force at which Space Shuttle Endeavour roars into space after a perfect launch. Liftoff occurred on time at 10:06:01 p.m. EST. The Shuttle and its five-member crew will deliver U.S. solar arrays to the International Space Station and be the first Shuttle crew to visit the Station’s first resident crew. The 11-day mission includes three spacewalks. This marks the 101st mission in Space Shuttle history and the 25th night launch. Endeavour is expected to land at KSC Dec. 11 at 6:19 p.m. EST

(Source: mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov)

In a perfect, on-time launch, Space Shuttle Endeavour breaks away from the billows of smoke and steam around Launch Pad 39B. Liftoff of Endeavour occurred at 10:06:01 p.m. EST on mission STS-97. Endeavour and its five-member crew will deliver U.S. solar arrays to the International Space Station and be the first Shuttle crew to visit the Station’s first resident crew. The 11-day mission includes three spacewalks. This marks the 101st mission in Space Shuttle history and the 25th night launch. Endeavour is expected to land Dec. 11 at 6:19 p.m. EST

(Source: mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov)

Clouds of steam and smoke nearly surround Space Shuttle Endeavour as it rises past the launch tower on Launch Pad 39A. Liftoff of the Shuttle on mission STS-99 occurred at 12:43:40 p.m. EST. Known as the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM), STS-99 will chart a new course to produce unrivaled 3-D images of the Earth’s surface. The result of the SRTM could be close to 1 trillion measurements of the Earth’s topography. The mission is expected to last 11days, with Endeavour landing at KSC Tuesday, Feb. 22, at 4:36 p.m. EST. This is the 97th Shuttle flight and 14th for Shuttle Endeavour

(Source: mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov)

After liftoff at 12:43:40 p.m. EST, the Space Shuttle Endeavour on mission STS-99 soars into a clear blue sky, trailed by flames and rolling billows of steam. The brilliant flames are reflected in the nearby waters. Known as the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM), STS-99 will chart a new course to produce unrivaled 3-D images of the Earth’s surface. The result of the SRTM could be close to 1 trillion measurements of the Earth’s topography. The mission is expected to last 11days, with Endeavour landing at KSC Tuesday, Feb. 22, at 4:36 p.m. EST. This is the 97th Shuttle flight and 14th for Shuttle Endeavour.

(Source: mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov)

Twin columns of flame flow from the solid rocket boosters, lighting the billows of steam behind them with an orange glow, as Space Shuttle Endeavour roars into space on mission STS-99. Liftoff occurred at 12:43:40 p.m. EST. Known as the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM), STS-99 will chart a new course to produce unrivaled 3-D images of the Earth’s surface. The result of the SRTM could be close to 1 trillion measurements of the Earth’s topography. The mission is expected to last 11days, with Endeavour landing at KSC Tuesday, Feb. 22, at 4:36 p.m. EST. This is the 97th Shuttle flight and 14th for Shuttle Endeavour.

(Source: mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov)