This was
your sky.

Recycling Columbia

Twenty years ago, the Space Shuttle Columbia became the first reusable spaceship, making its second trip to low Earth orbit in November 1981. This image shows Columbia, 56 meters long with a 24-meter wingspan, launching with its external fuel tank and two solid rocket boosters. These boosters, one on each side of the external tank, provide most of the thrust for liftoff, creating dramatic exhaust plumes.