40 Years Ago, the Shuttle Launched →

Matt Haskell at Spaceflight Insider marked yesterday’s anniversary with an outstanding column on the history of the program:

The morning of April 12, 1981, proved to be a history-making event. For many, that day stemmed careers, dreams and imaginations alike. On that inaugural launch day began 30 years of advances in spaceflight, technology, scientific research, and would eventually lead to a permanent presence of humanity in space, but not without tragedy. This is the story of the Space Shuttle.