Space Shuttle Columbia - STS-1 Launch

On this day in 1981, the Space Shuttle flew for the first time. Astronauts John Young and Robert Crippen took Columbia on a 2-day shakedown to prove the premise that a winged, reusable, orbital spacecraft could actually work.
A few rarities and oddities that can be seen on the launch of STS-1, but no other launch of the Space Shuttle, were the late ignition of the ROFI igniters under Columbia’s main engines, as well as the late main engine start sequence. Later in the program, the ROFI system would be started at T-10 seconds and the main engine ignition sequence would begin at T-6.6 seconds. For STS-1, the ROFIs fired at approximately T-7 seconds and the main engines ignited approximately T-3.5 seconds. Given the need for the main engines to have a full 6.6 seconds of run time in order to reach minimum flight power, this resulted in a hold on SRB ignition and vehicle release until approximately T+3 seconds - the only time in Shuttle history that such an event occurred. The other oddity that STS-1 exhibited, seen only on one other flight (STS-2), was the use of the painted, white external tank. After STS-2, it was determined that the paint was not needed, and was no longer applied beginning with STS-3. The tanks remained unpainted for the duration of the Shuttle Program.
This video is taken from NASA's official coverage of STS-1's launch, and has been heavily upscaled via AI protocol. The audio is a custom composite track, composed of a composite of the NASA Public Affairs Office commentary and air-ground communications, realized by fellow UA-camr Lunar Module 5, as well as my own composite, using recordings from STS-116, STS-117, STS-133, and STS-134.
#HailColumbia
#NASA
#SpaceShuttle

[@STSRTF]

Space shuttle Columbia was the heaviest space shuttle. The empty weight at rollout of space shuttle Columbia was 158,289 pounds and the weight of Columbia with main engines installed was 178,000 pounds.

[@STSRTF]

Leaving the external tanks unpainted starting with STS 3 and for the rest of the shuttle program saved approximately 600 pounds of weight.

[@peacethroughstrength172]

This NEVER grows old! Just Fn amazing!

[@AluminumOxide]

7:05 what an almighty powerful SRB ignition flash of light!!!

[@STSRTF]

This happened exactly 43 years ago today.

[@rajnirvan3336]

I remember here in UK it was watched by everyone all ages and spoken about. I was nearly 4 years old in 1981 and remember being taken by this and got me interested. I asked my mum if I could have a toy later that year of the shuttle for my 4th birthday 😂😂😂😂

[@RacingisLif3]

Spaceflight is the one thing that might fascinate me as much as racing does