WIKIARCHIVES.SPACE

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The Space Shuttle Columbia rises majestically above Launch Complex 39's Pad A on the first leg of its maiden journey into space. On board for the historic flight are Astronauts John Young and Bob Crippen, scheduled to spend nearly 54 hours in space on this first shakedown test of America's new reusable Space Transportation System (STS-1). The Sunday morning liftoff came a few seconds after 7:00 a.m. and marked the dawn of a new era in spaceflight.