First Space Shuttle Columbia Launch

On April 12, 1981, Space Shuttle Columbia launched from Kennedy Space Center on mission STS-1, carrying commander John Young and pilot Robert Crippen on the first orbital flight of a reusable spacecraft. The launch fell on the 20th anniversary of Yuri Gagarin's spaceflight. Columbia completed 36 orbits over 54.5 hours before landing at Edwards Air Force Base on April 14. Roughly 70 anomalies were noted during the flight, including heat shield tile damage from solid rocket booster overpressure waves at ignition.