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The first space shuttle mission

How the space shuttle Columbia revolutionised manned space exploration

On 12th April 1981, the space shuttle Columbia made history becoming the first ever reusable space craft to fly into orbit. It marked the start of a 30-year shuttle programme which revolutionised the history of manned space exploration. Using NASA and 大象传媒 archive we tell the story of this historic test flight.
Photo: NASA photo shows the first launching of the space shuttle from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Columbia carried astronauts John Young and Robert Crippen. (AFP via Getty Images)

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9 minutes

Last on

Sat 24 Apr 2021 02:50GMT

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  • Fri 23 Apr 2021 07:50GMT
  • Fri 23 Apr 2021 11:50GMT
  • Fri 23 Apr 2021 17:50GMT
  • Sat 24 Apr 2021 02:50GMT

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