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STS-1: America's first space shuttle mission
The space shuttle era was born on April 12, 1981 when astronauts John Young and Bob Crippen rode Columbia into Earth orbit from Kennedy Space Center's launch pad 39A. The two-day flight proved the shuttle could get into space as a rocket and return safely with a runway landing. Following the voyage of STS-1, the two astronauts narrated this film of the mission highlights and told some of their personal thoughts on the flight.

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STS-2: First reusable spaceship
Seven months after the successful maiden voyage of space shuttle Columbia, astronauts Joe Engle and Richard Truly took the orbiter back into space on mission STS-2. The November 12, 1981 launch demonstrated that the space shuttle was the world's first reusable manned spacecraft. Although their mission would be cut short, Engle and Truly performed the first tests of the shuttle's Canadian-made robotic arm. The crew tells the story of the mission in this post-flight presentation.

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Atlantis begins journey back to Florida

Space shuttle Atlantis left Edwards Air Force Base, California, at 9:04 a.m. EDT Sunday morning to begin a cross-country piggyback ride atop a modified 747 carrier jet. The shuttle's recent space station construction mission landed at the Mojave Desert base 9 days ago.

This weekend's ferry flight is expected expected to have a couple of stops along the way, with arrival back at the shuttle homeport in Florida anticipated midday on Monday.

Photo credit: Gene Blevins/LA Daily News










Photo credit: Gene Blevins/LA Daily News
 

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