On April 12, 1981, NASA launched Space Shuttle Columbia, or STS-1, as the world's first reusable spacecraft. The maiden Space Shuttle mission was piloted by astronauts John Young and Bob Crippen. Columbia soared into orbit from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, with vast crowds witnessing the landing at Edwards Air Force Base, CA, on April 14, 1981. | Newsweek

The STS-1 mission launched NASA astronauts John W. Young and Robert Crippen into space for a 54.4 hour, 36 orbit test flight of Space Shuttle Columbia on April 12, 1981. | Space.com