Liftoff of Space Shuttle Columbia
Explanation:
On April 12, 1981, space flight entered a new era
with the
first launch of
Space Shuttle Columbia.
NASA's
Space Shuttles land like a normal airplane,
carry a heavy cargo, carry a large crew,
make use of cheap solid fuel, and are reusable.
Previous to
this flight, no manned orbiting space ship
had ever landed on a runway.
Space Shuttles now are the flagships and the
workhorses of NASA's space
going rockets.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
