The first Space Shuttle mission, STS-1, was launched April 12, 1981, and returned April 14. Space Shuttle Columbia orbited the earth 36 times in this 54.5-hour mission. It was the first US manned space flight since the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project in July 15, 1975.

Crew

Mass:

• Orbiter Liftoff: 219,256 lb (99,453 kg)
  Orbiter Landing: 195,466 lb (88,662 kg)
  DFI payload: 10,822 lb (4,909 kg)
  Perigee: 149 mi (240 km)
  Apogee: 156 mi (251 km)
  Inclination: 40.3°
  Period: 89.4 min Mission highlights
  STS-1 was the first test flight of what was, at the time, probably the most complex spacecraft ever built. There were numerous problems – 'anomalies' in NASA parlance – on the flight, as many systems could not be adequately tested on the ground or independently. Some of the more serious or interesting were:
  For a more complete list, see the STS-1 Anomaly Report, the source for most of the anomalies listed above.
  Despite these problems, STS-1 was a successful test, and in most respects Columbia came through with flying colors. After some modifications to the shuttle and to the launch and re-entry procedures, Columbia would fly the next four Shuttle missions.
  
  During reentry, a protruding tile gap filler ducted hot gas into the right main landing gear well, which caused significant damage including buckling of the landing gear door. Mission anomalies
  The artwork for the official mission insignia was designed by artist Robert McCall. It is a symbolic representation of the shuttle. The image does not depict the black wing roots present on the actual shuttle.
  
  Mission insignia
  Yuri's Night is an international celebration held on April 12 every year to commemorate the first human in space and the first Space Shuttle launch.
  In tribute to the 25th anniversary of the first flight of Space Shuttle, the firing room 1 in the Launch Control Center at Kennedy Space Center was renamed to the Young-Crippen Firing Room, dedicating the firing room that launched the historic flight and the crew of STS-1.
  NASA described the mission as: "The boldest test flight in history" [1].
  
  Anniversary
  The section could be improved by integrating relevant items into the main text and removing inappropriate items.
  
  The song "Countdown" by Rush from the 1982 album Signals was written about STS-1 and the inaugural Space Shuttle flight of Columbia. The song was "dedicated with thanks to astronauts Young & Crippen and all the people of NASA for their inspiration and cooperation". The song "Red Sector A" from their 1983 album Grace Under Pressure was named for the area where the band witnessed the launch.
  At one stage, NASA considered making STS-1 a test of the Return to Launch Site (RTLS) abort profile, which would have required Columbia to jettison the Solid Rocket Boosters at the normal separation altitude, fly downrange and pitch the Orbiter and External Tank over, resulting in the vehicle flying backwards with all three engines burning at the same time. Because the RTLS maneuver is considered very risky, Young declined, saying, "Let's not practice Russian roulette." This lack of paint gives the ET its distinctive orange color now associated with the Space Shuttle. Trivia
  IMAX cameras filmed the launch, landing, and mission control during the flight for a film entitled Hail Columbia!, which debuted in 1982. It is now available on DVD. The title of the film comes from the pre-1930s unofficial American national anthem, also titled Hail, Columbia.
  
  Hail Columbia! at the Internet Movie Database Hail Columbia!
  
  Space science
  Space shuttle thermal protection system
  List of space shuttle missions
  List of human spaceflights chronologically Media