The Explorers' Club, № DCCCLXXIII

Operation AXIOM: The Space Age—The 40th Anniversary of S.T.S.-3, Part I
22 March 1982: The Space Shuttle Columbia OV-102 lifted off from Florida's Kennedy Space Center with CDR Jack Lousma & Pilot Gordon Fullerton; this was the first launch without the External Tank painted white, giving the Shuttle its iconic appearance, & the first endurance flight, scheduled for seven days; testing continued of both the Orbiter & the Remote Manipulator System ("Canadarm").

Commentary: This episode is late, & I am very sorry. Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

Bonus! Space Age Song o' the Day: S.T.S.-3
Melbourne Ska Orchestra, "Third Time Lucky" from Melbourne Ska Orchestra (Space Cadet Mike Papa Whiskey)

Semper exploro.