WIKIARCHIVES.SPACE

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The Space Shuttle Columbia rises off Pad 39A a few seconds past 7 a.m. on April 12, 1981 — the dawn of a new age in spaceflight. Onboard, astronauts John Young and Bob Crippen ride toward orbit following a successful liftoff of the first Space Shuttle mission. Mission plans call for the Columbia to remain in orbit for about 54 hours, during which astronauts Young and Criipen will perform a series of checkout activities designed to test the Space Shuttle's systems in space for the first time. The Columbia is scheduled to glide to an airplane-like landing at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.