First Landing of Columbia

After completing the first full test of the Space Transportation System, mission STS-1, space shuttle Columbia is seen here on the Rogers dry lake, Runway 23, at NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. From this aerial view, Columbia is seen as it is being convoyed to a parking area. 

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. 

Special Delivery

Riding piggyback on its 747 carrier aircraft, space shuttle Columbia is only seconds away from a touchdown at Kennedy Space Center’s Shuttle Landing Facility, completing its 2,400-mile ferry flight from Dryden Flight Research Center in California. Columbia, the first of the fleet of space shuttles, launched April 12, 1981, on the maiden voyage of the Space Shuttle Program, STS-1. 

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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.

(via itsfullofstars)

One of a new series of U.S. Postage stamps, The 1980s, is unveiled at the KSC Visitors Complex. The stamp, shown here, is the Space Shuttle Columbia, first launched in April 1981. This collection of stamps is the ninth in the Post Office’s “Celebrate the Century” commemorative series honoring the last 100 years of American history.

The first Space Shuttle vehicle destined to fly in space moves toward Pad A at Complex 39, where it will be launched. The STS-1 vehicle - consisting of America’s first reusable spaceship, Columbia, the external propellant tank and twin solid rocket boosters - was assembled on a Mobile Launcher Platform in the Vehicle Assembly Building.

Shuttle Orbiter Columbia move from OPF and mate to external tank in VAB.

The Space Shuttle Columbia, (STS-1) stands poised for its maiden flight into space from Launch Pad A, Complex 39, following retraction of the Rotating Service Structure (RSS).

Dramatically reflected by the waters of the extensive lagoonal sysem adjacent to Launch Pad A, the Space Shuttle, the world’s first reusable space vehicle, is lighted by spotlights and the setting sun on the evening prior to Flight Readiness Firing of the orbiter Columbia’s main engines. The 20-second firing was a milestone procedure in flight preparation of the world’s first reusable space vehicle.