Astronomy Picture of the Day . Liftoff of Space Shuttle Columbia . ... 6.08.1995 . ... Credit: NASA, Kennedy Space Center Explanation: On April 12, 1981, space flight entered a new era with the first launch of Space Shuttle Columbia , shown above. NASA's Space Shuttles land like a normal plane, carry a heavy cargo, carry a large crew, make use of cheap solid fuel, and are reusable. ... For more information about NASA's Space Shuttle missions, see the NASA Space Shuttle Launches page . ...