#sts-1

[lonestarflight]

“Space Art - “Columbia Launch Fantasy,” Mixed media painting by artist Andreas Nottebohm is his interpretation of the first launch of the Space Shuttle Columbia, April 12, 1981, Kennedy Space Center.

(NASA Art Program)”

NASA ID: 82-H-300

[daintybomb]

Space Shuttle Columbia landing at Edwards Air Force Base after its first flight, completing the STS-1 mission. April 14, 1981.

[gemini-enthusiast]

Earth observations with the tail of Columbia, STS-1

[toaarcan]

STS-1 was not a perfect mission, but it's wild how much more successful that first shot was 44 years ago than the giant firework we have now.

[scanzen]

Space Shuttle Columbia (STS-1) Flown Tile Section Limited Edition Presentation. 

A small, 0.5" square portion of a thermal tile embedded in a numbered (0322) 3.75" x 2.75" x 1" clear Lucite display. It was "Presented to Doris R. Fennell/ In appreciation of your contribution to the Space Shuttle program" as noted on the front. There is an accompanying folder that reads, in part: "This memento contains a section of thermal protection tile cut from a damaged tile that was removed from the orbiter 'Columbia' after its first mission in space (...) This authenticated tile section was prepared for you as a member of the Kennedy Space Center team (...)" 

via Heritage Auctions

tried to recreate that lovely basic worm logo+shuttle line art graphics:

[nocternalrandomness]

Columbia STS-1 landing at Edwards AFB

STS-1 was the first orbital spaceflight of NASA's Space Shuttle program. The first orbiter, Columbia, launched on April 12, 1981 and returned on April 14, 1981, 54.5 hours later, having orbited the Earth 36 times. Columbia carried a crew of two – mission commander John W. Young and pilot Robert L. Crippen.

[oldkitty]

[edwhiteandblue]

Patch of the Day: STS-1

STS-1 Columbia was the first flight of the Space Shuttle Program. It launched on April 12, 1981 and was flown by John Young and Bob Crippen. They returned to Earth on April 14.

The patch was designed by space artist Robert McCall

Main background is Earth with red ellipse representing the orbital nature of the mission

Ellipse is created by a smaller orbiter

Space Shuttle at the top in a blue, red, and yellow triangle

Blue represents the sky and mimics the Space Shuttle Program insignia

Yellow are red portion symbolize the blast of the engines— some patches also have orange 

Orbiter at the top does not include the black wing roots present on Columbia

Astronaut names in white capital letters and the orbiter name in capital blue letters against a red and yellow background with white trim

This patch is available on thespacestore.com

Random song: Blast Off Columbia - Jerry Rucker (wake-up call)