What is STS-1?
[[File:Sts-1-patch.png|thumb|200px|STS-1 patch]] '''STS-1''' was the first flight of the [[space shuttle]]. It launched on [[April 12]], [[1981]] and landed on [[April 14]]. It was launched 20 years after the [[Vostok 1|first manned space flight]]. The space shuttle used was [[Space Shuttle Columbia|''Columbia'']]. Space Shuttle Columbia orbited the [[Earth]] 37 times in this mission. ==External tank== [[File:Space Shuttle Columbia launching cropped.jpg|thumb|left|100px|Launch of Columbia with a painted [[external tank]]]] STS-1 was the first of two missions with a painted [[external tank]]. The paint was put to protect the external tank from ultraviolet light when it was standing on the launch pad. After [[STS-2]], the paint was removed [[Category:Space Shuttle flights]] [[Category:1981 in the United States]]