Two astronauts, one space plane and NASA’s shuttle era began today in 1981 as the Columbia orbiter launched into the morning skies above Cape Canaveral, Florida. Columbia, NASA’s first spaceworthy ...

Twenty-five years ago this week, NASA launched two astronauts into orbit aboard the first flight of the Columbia space shuttle. But on April 12, 1981 when Columbia first left Earth, those two test ...

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. As NASAmarks 25 yearsof shuttle flight this week, the space agency is looking ahead to its ...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Back on April 12, 1981, the space shuttle roared to life for the first time. Columbia lifted off from Kennedy Space Center carrying two astronauts – a moonwalker, John Young, ...

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 after a ...