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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 BBC 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)
Last on
Sat 24 Apr 202102:50GMT
BBC World Service except Australasia
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- Fri 23 Apr 202107:50GMTBBC World Service
- Fri 23 Apr 202111:50GMTBBC World Service
- Fri 23 Apr 202117:50GMTBBC World Service except East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa
- Sat 24 Apr 202102:50GMTBBC World Service except Australasia
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Witness History
The story of our times, told by the people who were there
