April 12, 1981: the 20th anniversary of the first manned spaceflight in history. On that morning, a new generation of spaceship stood poised for launch from complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center. Representing a completely new and innovative approach to spaceflight, the Space Shuttle program embarked on its first mission that mid-April morning. Utilizing pioneer orbiter Columbia, the world’s first reusable spaceship would go on to fly 28 highly successful missions, bringing an unprecedented wealth of knowledge and unforgettable moments to the world community.
