STS-1 (Space Transportation System)

STS-1 was the first mission of NASA's Space Shuttle program, launched on April 12, 1981, by the shuttle Columbia. It marked the first time a reusable spacecraft was sent into space to carry astronauts and cargo. The mission demonstrated the shuttle's capabilities for safe launch, operation in orbit, and return to Earth. It lasted about 54 hours, during which the crew conducted various tests to validate the shuttle's design and performance. STS-1 laid the foundation for future space missions, making space transportation more routine and cost-effective.