The Explorers' Club, № DCCCXI

Operation AXIOM: The Space Age—The 40th Anniversary of S.T.S.-1
12-14 April 1981: The Space Shuttle Columbia OV-102 lifted off from Florida's Kennedy Space Center LC-39A with CDR John Young & Pilot Bob Crippen; this was the first flight of the entire Space Shuttle—Orbiter, External Tank, & Solid Rocket Boosters—there had not been an uncrewed test flight; the Columbia lost several of its thermal protection tiles, but landed safely at California's Edwards A.F.B.

Commentary: It was pure coincidence that S.T.S.-1 launched on the twentieth anniversary of the first manned spaceflight by Yuri Gagarin aboard Vostok 1, 12 April 1961. The Columbia was originally scheduled to lift off on 10 April 1981, before that launch attempt was scrubbed due to a software problem.

This was the first flight of the Columbia OV-102.

Bonus! Space Age Song o' the Day: S.T.S.-1
Rush, "Countdown" from Signals (Space Cadet Mike Papa Whiskey)

Commentary: "Countdown" is about S.T.S.-1, incorporating audio clips from space-to-ground communications between the crew & Mission Control as well as N.A.S.A. Public Affairs.

Semper exploro.