Space Shuttle Columbia

Space Shuttle Columbia (OV-102) was a Space Shuttle orbiter manufactured by Rockwell International and operated by NASA. Named after the first American ship to circumnavigate the globe, and the female personification of the United States, Columbia was the first of five Space Shuttle orbiters to fly in space, debuting the Space Shuttle launch vehicle on its maiden flight on April 12, 1981 and becoming the first spacecraft to be re-used after its first flight when it launched on STS-2 on November 12, 1981. As only the second full-scale orbiter to be manufactured after the Approach and Landing Test vehicle Enterprise, Columbia retained unique external and internal features compared with later orbiters, such as test instrumentation and distinctive black chines. In addition to a heavier aft fuselage and the retention of an internal airlock throughout its lifetime, these made Columbia the heaviest of the five spacefaring orbiters: around 1,000 kilograms heavier than Challenger and 3,600 kilograms heavier than Endeavour when originally constructed. Columbia also carried ejection seats based on those from the SR-71 during its first six flights until 1983, and from 1986 onwards carried an imaging pod on its vertical stabilizer.

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1981  Wikimedia, Wikidata
OV-102; OV102; Orbiter Vehicle 102; STS Columbia OV-102; Space Shuttle Columbia
former entity, Space Shuttle orbiter, Itzhak Mayo, 

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Location: KML, Cluster Map, Maps,

1981-04-12T00:00:00Z

1981-04-12T00:00:00Z

1981 Space Shuttle Columbia

2003-02-01T00:00:00Z

2003-02-01T00:00:00Z

Space Shuttle Columbia disaster

1981-04-12T00:00:00Z

1981-04-12T00:00:00Z

maiden flight

1979-03-24T00:00:00Z

1979-03-24T00:00:00Z

delivery

1979-03-08T00:00:00Z

1979-03-08T00:00:00Z

rollout

2003-01-16T00:00:00Z

2003-01-16T00:00:00Z

last flight

1972-07-26T00:00:00Z

1972-07-26T00:00:00Z

contract awarding

1975-03-25T00:00:00Z

1975-03-25T00:00:00Z

construction

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Frameless

Space Shuttle Columbia takes off during the STS-83 mission.

The five Space Shuttles during launch.

STS-5 Pilot Overmyer completes hygiene activities, demonstrates IVA foot restraint

Space Shuttle Columbia with the Spacelab module attached, over the Southern coast of Sri Lanka

Shaving in Space (7678548374)

STS-009 shuttle

Columbia landing

Richard N. Richards on the flight deck of Columbia during STS-28

Space Shuttle Columbia

First launch of Space Shuttle Columbia

• What Kind of Day Has It Been - episode of The West Wing (S1 E22), 2000

Type	Subtype	Date	Description	Notes	Source
commons	image		Space Shuttle Columbia takes off during the STS-83 mission.		Commons
commons	image		The five Space Shuttles during launch.		Commons
commons	image		STS-5 Pilot Overmyer completes hygiene activities, demonstrates IVA foot restraint		Commons
commons	image		Space Shuttle Columbia with the Spacelab module attached, over the Southern coast of Sri Lanka		Commons
commons	image		Shaving in Space (7678548374)		Commons
commons	image		STS-009 shuttle		Commons
commons	image		Columbia landing		Commons
commons	image		Richard N. Richards on the flight deck of Columbia during STS-28		Commons
commons	image		Space Shuttle Columbia		Commons
commons	image		First launch of Space Shuttle Columbia		Commons