The first space shuttle destined to fly in space moves toward Pad A at Launch Complex 39, where it lifted off in April 1981. The STS-1 vehicle – consisting of America's first reusable spaceship, Columbia, the external propellant tank and twin solid rocket boosters – was assembled on a mobile launcher platform in the Vehicle Assembly Building.
The first space shuttle destined to fly in space moves toward Pad A at Launch Complex 39, where it lifted off in April 1981. The STS-1 vehicle – consisting of America’s first reusable spaceship, Columbia, the external propellant tank and twin solid rocket boosters – was assembled on a mobile launcher platform in the Vehicle Assembly Building. A six-million-pound crawler-transporter carried the shuttle stack to the launch pad about 3.5 miles away.
Image credit: NASA
Dec. 29, 1980