The Space Shuttle Columbia began a new era of manned spaceflight when it lifted off from NASA's Kennedy Space Center on STS-1, the inaugural flight in the Space Shuttle Program on April 12,1981.
EC81-15520_S81-30492
STS-1 Launch
The Space Shuttle Columbia began a new era of manned spaceflight when it lifted off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on STS-1, the inaugural flight in the Space Shuttle Program on April 12,1981. The reusable shuttle orbiter, its fuel tank, and two solid rocket boosters have just cleared the launch tower in this image. Aboard the spacecraft were astronauts John W. Young, commander, and Robert L. Crippen, pilot.April 12, 1981
NASA photo