[Answer] When did the first space shuttle launch?

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When did the first space shuttle launch?

• 1981:The first mission of the STS-1, or space transport system, launched on April 12, 1981. This event ushered in the age of the space shuttle. NASA envisioned the space shuttle as a permanent link between space and Earth, making it part of a total transportation system. The shuttle was one element in a far-reaching plan that included a space station, unmanned missions to other planets, and eventually a manned flight to Mars. The launch and successful flight of STS-1 marked the greatest achievement in aviation history. The space shuttle was a reusable craft, a true aerospace vehicle that could launch from Earth, enter and operate in space, then return to Earth in a controlled landing. Source: History.NASA.gov

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