First Space Shuttle Launch
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On April 12, 1981, thirty years worth of concepts and research into space-capable aircraft took flight from the Kennedy Space Center. The Space Shuttle Columbia, which lifted off into orbit on her maiden voyage that day, was unlike anything that had flown in space before.
Before this time, conventional spacecraft were blunt-shaped capsules that could only be used once due to the intense heat produced by reentry into the Earth's atmosphere. But the shuttle was different; this new craft would be launched into space, glide to a landing on a conventional runway, and be refurbished for more trips into orbit.
Jon Reddick
Jon was eleven years old in the seventh grade attending Haines City Middle School when Columbia lifted off for the first time.
I remember being in science class, and I had a crush on the science teacher.
This was still a decade before the multimedia boom of the early nineties and having a TV in your classroom was very unique, but most teachers had brought in televisions from home so that they and their students could watch the shuttle take off.
As it was approaching time for countdown, I recall that the bell rang to change classes, but the principal came over the P.A. system and told everyone to just stay where they were so they wouldn't miss the launch in case it happened during the walk between periods.
I know I felt very nervous, and feared that Columbia would lift off the pad and crash back down to Earth because it didn't look like a rocket I couldn't imagine how it could possibly fly straight looking so off-balance with that huge booster rocket bolted to its belly.
The countdown was exciting, and I remember being able to hear students all over the school, echoing through the halls, as they counted along with the TV. I was very relieved when it didn't wobble or fall, but lifted beautifully on a column of fire & smoke into the sky. Afterwards we all filed outside and could see the shuttle's trail in the sky because it was only about 90 miles from our school.
