The Space Shuttle Columbia begins a new era of space transportation when it lifts off from NASA Kennedy Space Center (KSC). The reusable Orbiter, its two (2) fuel tanks and two (2) Solid Rocket Boosters (SRB) has just cleared the launch tower. Aboard the spacecraft are Astronauts John W. Young, Commander, and Robert L. Crippen, Pilot . 1. STS-I - LAUNCH KSC, FL KSC, FL Also available in 4x5 BW

STS-1 - LAUNCH - KSC

The Space Shuttle Columbia begins a new era of space transportation when it lifts off from NASA Kennedy Space Center (KSC). The reusable Orbiter, its two (2) fuel tanks and two (2) Solid Rocket Boosters (SRB) has just cleared the launch tower. Aboard the spacecraft are Astronauts John W. Young, Commander, and Robert L. Crippen, Pilot . 1. STS-I - LAUNCH KSC, FL KSC, FL Also available in 4x5 BW

LAUNCH - STS-1 - KSC

S81-30498 (12 April 1981) --- After six years of silence, the thunder of manned spaceflight is heard again, as the successful launch of the first space shuttle ushers in a new concept in utilization of space. The April 12, 1981 launch, at Pad 39A, just seconds past 7 a.m., carries astronaut John Young and Robert Crippen into an Earth-orbital mission scheduled to last for 54 hours, ending with unpowered landing at Edwards Air Force Base in California. STS-1, the first in a series of shuttle vehicles planned for the Space Transportation System, utilizes reusable launch and return components. Photo credit: NASA or National Aeronautics and Space Administration

The new era in space flight began on April 12, 1981. That is when the first Space Shuttle mission (STS-1) was launched. The Marshall Space Flight Center developed the propulsion system for the Space Shuttle. This photograph depicts the launch of the Space Shuttle Orbiter Columbia marned with two astronauts, John Young and Robert Crippen.

Space Shuttle Projects

Launch Views - Columbia - STS-1 Mission - KSC

S81-30459 (12 April 1981) --- A remote camera at the Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39A captured this scene as the maiden flight of space shuttle Columbia begins. Astronauts John W. Young, STS-1 commander, and Robert L. Crippen, pilot, are aboard Columbia as it begins an orbital mission scheduled to last for 54 hours. The flight will end on April 14 with an unpowered landing at Edwards Air Force Base in California. Three main engines and two solid rocket boosters are necessary to boost the 150,000 pound orbiter into Earth orbit. Photo credit: NASA or National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Launch Views - Columbia - STS-1 Mission - KSC

S81-30460 (12 April 1981) --- A remote camera at the Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39A captured this scene as the maiden flight of space shuttle Columbia begins. Astronauts John W. Young, STS-1 commander, and Robert L. Crippen, pilot, are aboard Columbia as it begins an orbital mission scheduled to last some 54 hours. The flight will end on April 14 with an unpowered landing at Edwards Air Force Base in California. Three main engines and two solid rocket boosters are necessary to boost the 150,000 pound orbiter into Earth orbit. Photo credit: NASA or National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Launch views of the Columbia for the STS-1 mission, April 12, 1981

S81-30463 (12 April 1981) --- The space shuttle Columbia rises off Pad 39A a few seconds past 7 a.m. (EST) on April 12, 1981. Onboard, astronauts John W. Young, STS-1 commander, and Robert L. Crippen, pilot, head toward an Earth-orbital mission which represents the beginning of a new era in space transportation. Thousands of persons were in the area to view the historic launch. Photo credit: NASA or National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Launch views of the Columbia for the STS-1 mission, April 12, 1981

S81-30462 (12 April 1981) --- The space shuttle Columbia rises off Pad 39A a few seconds past 7 a.m. (EST) on April 12, 1981. Onboard, astronauts John W. Young, STS-1 commander, and Robert L. Crippen, pilot, head toward an Earth-orbital mission which represents the beginning of a new era in space transportation. Thousands of persons were in the area to view the historic launch. Photo credit: NASA or National Aeronautics and Space Administration

KSC Launch Control Center (LCC) Firing Room 1 during STS-32 launch

S90-29047 99Jan 1990) --- At the conclusion of another successful countdown, members of the KSC launch team in Firing Room 1 rivet their eyes on the skies to the east of the Launch Control Center. Their reward was a glimpse of Columbia burning its way upward up from Complex 39's Pad A. The brilliant flame of the boosters hurled shadows and patches of light into the firing room's interior. Launch of the STS-32 mission at 7:35 a.m. EST today marked the beginning of a busy year which could see the launch of as many as 10 missions.

S81-33178 (12 April 1981) --- The two solid rocket boosters are jettisoned from the climbing space shuttle Columbia as a successful launch phase continues for NASA's first manned space mission since 1975. Astronauts John W. Young and Robert L. Crippen are aboard Columbia. Photo credit: NASA

LAUNCH (IGOR) - STS-1

LAUNCH - STS-1 - KSC

S81-30502 (12 April 1981) --- Space shuttle Columbia’s aft orbiter section dominates the field of view in this fifth frame of a dramatic liftoff sequence photographed from the 275-foot level of the Fixed Service Structures on Pad 39A. The seven-frame sequence documenting the space shuttle’s historic launch on its maiden voyage was taken with a Nikon camera equipped with a 28mm lens and a 250 exposure back. The camera was protected in a fire box. Photo credit: NASA

S81-33180 (12 April 1981) --- The two solid rocket boosters are jettisoned from the climbing space shuttle Columbia as a successful launch phase continues for NASA's first manned space mission since 1975. Astronauts John W. Young and Robert L. Crippen are aboard the Columbia. Photo credit: NASA

LAUNCH (IGOR) - STS-1

S81-33179 (12 April 1981) --- Though their STS-1 task has been performed, the two solid rocket boosters (SRB) still glow following their jettisoning from the space shuttle Columbia on its way to many firsts. Among the history recorded by the spacecraft is the marking of a mission in a reusable spacecraft. STS-1 is NASA's first manned mission since the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project in 1975. Inside the cabin of the climbing spacecraft are astronauts John W. Young and Robert L. Crippen. Photo credit: NASA

LAUNCH - STS-1 - KSC

S81-30501 (12 April 1981) --- Nose pointed skyward, space shuttle Columbia begins its climb toward orbit moments after solid rocket booster ignition in this first view of a dramatic liftoff sequence photographed from the 275-feet level of the Fixed Service Structure on Pad 39A. The seven frame sequence documenting the space shuttle’s historic launch on its maiden voyage was taken with a Nikon camera equipped with a 28mm lens with a 250 exposure back. The camera was protected in a fire box. Photo credit: NASA

LAUNCH - STS-1 - KSC

S81-30499 (12 April 1981) --- Space shuttle Columbia flies. Just seconds past the scheduled launch time of 7 a.m. on April 12, 1981, America's Space Transportation System becomes a fact, with the liftoff of the first space shuttle from Launch Pad 39A. The successful maiden flight of the new concept in space vehicles took astronauts John Young and Robert Crippen into an Earth-orbital mission scheduled to last for 54 hours, concluding with unpowered landing at Edwards Air Force Base, California. Photo credit: NASA or National Aeronautics and Space Administration

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - At the KSC Launch Pad 39A, two members of the payload closeout crew check equipment as the doors are just about ready to be closed. The Payload inside the bay of Discovery, the orbiter for the STS-82 mission, is ready for the launch of the second Hubble Space Telescope service mission. The payload consists of the Near Infrared Camera and Multi-Object Spectrometer (NICMOS) that will be installed, Fine Guidance Sensor #1 (FGS-1), and the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) to be installed. The STS-82 will launch with a crew of seven at 3:54 a.m. EST, Feb. 11, 1997. The launch window is 65 minutes in duration. The Mission Commander for STS-82 is Ken Bowersox. The purpose of the mission is to upgrade the scientific capabilities, service or replace aging components on the Telescope and provide a reboost to the optimum altitude.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The Rotating Service Structure has been retracted at KSC's Launch Pad 39A. Discovery, the orbiter for the STS-82 mission, is ready for the launch of the second Hubble Space Telescope service mission. The payload consists of the Near Infrared Camera and Multi-Object Spectrometer (NICMOS) that will be installed, Fine Guidance Sensor #1 (FGS-1), and the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) to be installed. The STS-82 will launch with a crew of seven at 3:54 a.m. EST, Feb. 11, 1997. The launch window is 65 minutes in duration. The Mission Commander for STS-82 is Ken Bowersox. The purpose of the mission is to upgrade the scientific capabilities, service or replace aging components on the Telescope, and provide a reboost to the optimum altitude.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The White Room is seen at the upper left where the astronauts enter the Space Shuttle for flight. The Rotating Service Structure has been retracted at KSC's Launch Pad 39A. Discovery, the orbiter for the STS-82 mission, is ready for the launch of the second Hubble Space Telescope service mission. The payload consists of the Near Infrared Camera and Multi-Object Spectrometer (NICMOS) that will be installed, Fine Guidance Sensor #1 (FGS-1), and the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) to be installed. The STS-82 will launch with a crew of seven at 3:54 a.m. EST, Feb. 11, 1997. The launch window is 65 minutes in duration. The Mission Commander for STS-82 is Ken Bowersox. The purpose of the mission is to upgrade the scientific capabilities, service or replace aging components on the Telescope, and provide a reboost to the optimum altitude.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The Payload is seen inside of the Bay just before the doors are closed for flight at KSC's Launch Pad 39A. Discovery, the orbiter for the STS-82 mission, is ready for the launch of the second Hubble Space Telescope service mission. The payload consists of the Near Infrared Camera and Multi-Object Spectrometer (NICMOS) that will be installed, Fine Guidance Sensor #1 (FGS-1), and the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) to be installed. The STS-82 will launch with a crew of seven at 3:54 a.m. EST, Feb. 11, 1997. The launch window is 65 minutes in duration. The Mission Commander for STS-82 is Ken Bowersox. The purpose of the mission is to upgrade the scientific capabilities, service or replace aging components on the Telescope, and provide a reboost to the optimum altitude.

LAUNCH (SOLID ROCKET BOOSTER [SRB]) - STS-1

S81-30509 (12 April 1981) --- Separation of space shuttle Columbia?s external tank, photographed by motion picture cameras in the umbilical bays, occurred following the shutdown of the vehicle?s three main engines. The Columbia?s cameras were able to record the underside of the tank as the orbiter headed toward its Earth-orbital mission with astronauts John W. Young and Robert L. Crippen aboard, and the fuel tank fell toward Earth, passing through the atmosphere rapidly. Photo credit: NASA

LAUNCH (SOLID ROCKET BOOSTER [SRB]) - STS-1

S81-30505 (12 April 1981) --- Separation of space shuttle Columbia?s external tank, photographed by motion picture cameras in the umbilical bays, occurred following the shutdown of the vehicle?s three main engines. Columbia?s cameras were able to record the bottom side of the tank as the orbiter headed toward its Earth-orbital mission with astronauts John W. Young and Robert L. Crippen aboard and the fuel tank fell toward Earth, passing through the atmosphere rapidly. Liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen umbilical connectors can be seen at the bottom of the tank. For orientation, the photo should be held with the rounded end at bottom of the frame. Photo credit: NASA

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The Payload is seen inside of the Bay just before the doors are closed for flight at Pad 39A, Kennedy Space Center, Fla. Discovery, the orbiter for STS-82 mission, is ready for the launch of the second Hubble Space Telescope service mission. The payload consists of the Near Infrared Camera and Multi-Object Spectrometer (NICMOS) that will be installed, Fine Guidance Sensor #1 (FGS-1), and the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) to be installed. The STS-82 will launch with a crew of seven at 3:54 a.m. EST, Feb. 11, 1997. The launch window is 65 minutes in duration. The Mission Commander for STS-82 is Ken Bowersox. The purpose of the mission is to upgrade the scientific capabilities, service or replace aging components on the Telescope, and provide a reboost to the optimum altitude.

KSC00PP-1169

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The STS-106 flight crew participate in a question and answer session for the media at the slide wire basket area of Launch Pad 39-B. Crew members pictured are, from left, Commander Terrence W. Wilcutt, Pilot Scott D. Altman, Mission Specialists Boris V. Morukov, Edward T. Lu, Yuri I. Malenchenko, Daniel C. Burbank and Richard A. Mastracchio. Malenchenko and Morukov are with the Russian Aviation and Space Agency. The flight crew were at Kennedy Space Center to take part in Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test (TCDT) activities. The TCDT provides the crew with emergency egress training and opportunities to inspect their mission payload in the orbiter’s payload bay. STS-106 is scheduled to launch Sept. 8, 2000, at 8:31 a.m. EDT from Launch Pad 39B. On the 11-day mission, the seven-member crew will perform support tasks on orbit, transfer supplies and prepare the living quarters in the newly arrived Zvezda Service Module. The first long-duration crew, dubbed “Expedition One,” is due to arrive at the Station in late fall.

KSC-00PP-1169

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The STS-106 flight crew participate in a question and answer session for the media at the slide wire basket area of Launch Pad 39-B. Crew members pictured are, from left, Commander Terrence W. Wilcutt, Pilot Scott D. Altman, Mission Specialists Boris V. Morukov, Edward T. Lu, Yuri I. Malenchenko, Daniel C. Burbank and Richard A. Mastracchio. Malenchenko and Morukov are with the Russian Aviation and Space Agency. The flight crew were at Kennedy Space Center to take part in Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test (TCDT) activities. The TCDT provides the crew with emergency egress training and opportunities to inspect their mission payload in the orbiter’s payload bay. STS-106 is scheduled to launch Sept. 8, 2000, at 8:31 a.m. EDT from Launch Pad 39B. On the 11-day mission, the seven-member crew will perform support tasks on orbit, transfer supplies and prepare the living quarters in the newly arrived Zvezda Service Module. The first long-duration crew, dubbed “Expedition One,” is due to arrive at the Station in late fall.

KSC-79pc-0242

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - This is the official insignia for the first Space Shuttle orbital flight test (STS-1). Crew of the OV-102 Columbia on STS-1 will be astronauts John W. Young, commander, and Robert L. Crippen, pilot. The artwork was done by artist Robert McCall. The STS-1 mission, known as a shuttle systems test flight, will seek 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. STS-1 will be launched from Pad A at the Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 39 no earlier than March 1981.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Vehicle Assembly Building, a KSC employee loosens a bolt on part of the forward assembly of a solid rocket booster (SRB) before destacking. The SRB was part of the stack on Atlantis originally scheduled for a March 1, 2003, launch on mission STS-114. The SRBs and external tank were demated in February 2003. The destacking is part of time and cycle activities. STS-114 is now scheduled to occur no earlier than Sept. 12, 2004, on Atlantis.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Vehicle Assembly Building, the forward assembly of this solid rocket booster (SRB) is ready for destacking, part of time and cycle activities. The SRB was part of the stack on Atlantis originally scheduled for a March 1, 2003, launch on mission STS-114. The SRBs and external tank were demated in February 2003. STS-114 is now scheduled to occur no earlier than Sept. 12, 2004, on Atlantis.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Robert L. Crippen, Pilot for the STS-1 mission of the Space Shuttle Orbiter Columbia. The STS-1 mission, known as a shuttle systems test flight, will seek 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. STS-1 will be launched from Pad A at the Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 39 no earlier than March 1981.

KSC-79pc-0273

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - John H. Young is the commander for the STS-1 mission of the Space Shuttle Orbiter Columbia. The STS-1 mission, known as a shuttle systems test flight, will seek 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. STS-1 will be launched from Pad A at the Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 39 no earlier than March 1981.