This is a 1/50th scale model of the Columbia Space Shuttle built by Robert Wisswell. It’s in it’s first launch configuration.

The Space Shuttle Columbia, designated as NASA’s Orbiter Vehicle OV-102, was the first orbiter in NASA’s Space Shuttle program, which aimed to provide a reusable spacecraft for human spaceflight. Columbia’s first launch marked the inaugural flight of the Space Shuttle program. Here are the key details about the shuttle and its first launch:

Space Shuttle Columbia (OV-102):

• Construction and Delivery: Columbia was constructed by Rockwell International in Palmdale, California. It was delivered to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida in March 1979.
• Naming: The shuttle was named after the historic exploration ship Columbia Rediviva, which was the first American ship to circumnavigate the globe in the late 18th century.
• Design Features: Columbia had the following distinctive design features:
  • It was the heaviest of the Space Shuttle orbiters.
  • It featured black thermal protection tiles on its lower surface to withstand the heat of reentry.
  • It was equipped with three Space Shuttle Main Engines (SSMEs) and two solid rocket boosters (SRBs) for launch.
• First Flight Crew: The crew for Columbia’s first flight was led by Commander John W. Young, a veteran astronaut who had flown on Gemini and Apollo missions. The pilot was Robert L. Crippen.

First Launch (STS-1):

• Launch Date: Columbia’s maiden flight, designated STS-1 (Space Transportation System-1), took place on April 12, 1981.
• Launch Site: The launch occurred from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) in Florida.
• Mission Objectives: The primary objectives of STS-1 were to test the overall Space Shuttle system, including launch, orbital operations, and reentry, and to ensure its capability for safe and reusable spaceflight.
• Flight Profile: During the flight, Columbia orbited the Earth 36 times in just over two days. It demonstrated the shuttle’s maneuvering capabilities and systems, but it did not carry a payload or conduct scientific experiments.
• Landing: On April 14, 1981, Columbia successfully landed at Edwards Air Force Base in California, marking the first successful return of a winged spacecraft from orbit.

STS-1 was a critical milestone in the development of the Space Shuttle program and the successful demonstration of a reusable spaceplane for human spaceflight. Following this historic flight, Columbia went on to complete 27 missions, including deploying satellites, conducting scientific research, and servicing the Hubble Space Telescope. Unfortunately, Columbia was tragically lost during its 28th mission, STS-107, when it disintegrated upon reentry into Earth’s atmosphere on February 1, 2003, resulting in the loss of all seven crew members. This tragedy led to a reevaluation of the Space Shuttle program and its safety protocols.