Space Shuttle Columbia Timeline of Events

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Space Shuttle Columbia

Space Shuttle Columbia was the first spaceworthy Space Shuttle in NASA's orbital fleet. First launched on the STS-1 mission, the first of the Space Shuttle program, it completed 27 missions before being destroyed during re-entry on February 1, 2003 near the end of its 28th, STS-107. All seven crew members were killed...

Timeline of Events

1979

3.25.1979

The first fully functional space shuttle orbiter, ''Columbia'', is delivered to the John F. Kennedy Space Center to be prepared for its first launch.

1981

4.12.1981

The first launch of a Space Shuttle: ''Columbia'' launches on the STS-1 mission. thumb launch: ''Columbia''.]]

11.12.1981

Space Shuttle program: Mission STS-2, utilizing the Space Shuttle Columbia, marks the first time a manned spacecraft is launched into space twice.

1982

3.22.1982

NASA's Space Shuttle ''Columbia'', is launched from the Kennedy Space Center on its third mission, STS-3.

3.30.1982

Space Shuttle program: STS-3 Mission is completed with the landing of ''Columbia'' at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico.

6.27.1982

Space Shuttle Columbia launched from the Kennedy Space Center on the final research and development flight mission, STS-4.

1986

1.12.1986

Space Shuttle program: Congressman Bill Nelson lifts off from Kennedy Space Center aboard Columbia on mission STS-61C as a Mission Specialist.

1989

8.8.1989

Space Shuttle program: STS-28 Mission – Space Shuttle Columbia takes off on a secret five-day military mission.

2003

1.16.2003

The Space Shuttle ''Columbia'' takes off for mission STS-107 which would be its final one. Columbia disintegrated 16 days later on re-entry.