First Space Shuttle Launch - 1981
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In recognition of the final Space Shuttle mission in July 2011, here is the first Space Shuttle launch on April 12, 1981. Coverage of the Columbia launch is provided by CBS newsman Dan Rather and CBS News consultants Leo Krupp and Alan Bean. These clips were recorded off-air from WNAC-TV in Boston. All rights are acknowledged.
Comments
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Thank you for the upload. I watched the launch on CBS. They had best view cause of the side shot at lift off. I remember that plus the screen flashing on and off. A day after my 10th Birthday in 1981. Just sad 22 years later, it along with her crew is no longer here. Very sad.
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Thanks for the upload as I would not be born for another 54 weeks when this happened.
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I remember it well
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I watched this live. Was just a week from my 10th birthday.
The contrast of how we watched the last of the first flight of the STS (TV/Radio) vs how we will watch the launch of the SLS (TV/Radio/Tablet/Cell Phone/YouTube /Social Media) is funny. -
Columbia...22 years later she would be gone..when you contrast this video which is full of excitement, pride (rightly so) and enthusiasm for this which would mark the start of a new era in space and then the video of columbia when she broke up on re-entry..it makes me sad to watch this.
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Thank you Thank you Thank you for showing the commercials at the end. Seriously, what a trip! Feels like 1981 was over a hundred years ago. Half of me wishes I could go back to that time.
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I see this great launch when i was a kid in the West German TV Broadcast Show,it was so great for me to see it.
In this Time the United States stands for the Free World,to bring
a Message to th whole World. nothing can Stop us.
And now 30 Years later?
No more Technic from Nasa?
They build a Capsle to get to the ISS like the Apollo Missions in the 60s.
Time will come and the Chinese are the first on Planet Mars.
Its so sad what is going in the last 15 Years with the USA.
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When American inspired greatness.
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Amazing!!
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if this doesn't make ya proud to be an american nothing will
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What Amazing coverage. Do you have more coverage from the Launch?
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Thanks! Processing video through a time-base corrector is important when digitizing old videocassettes.
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Lit up with anticipation We arrive at the launching site The sky is still dark, nearing dawn On the Florida coastline Circling choppers slash the night With roving searchlight beams This magic day when super-science Mingles with the bright stuff of dreams Floodlit in the hazy distance The star of this unearthly show Venting vapours, like the breath Of a sleeping white dragon Crackling speakers, voices tense Resume the final count All systems check, T minus nine As the sun and the drama star
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Awesome -- though the Shuttle was rather flawed in its design in operation.
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Alan Bean, the fourth man to walk on the moon.
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I couldn't agree more. So sad. :(
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@airdriver actually it was the polticians. We the people here on YouTube, don't have the power to fund NASA. Those Politicians of the last 5 years did everything to kill Manned Space Flight in the USA.
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Thirty years ago when I was a senior in high school my family got up on Sunday morning to watch this. As Columbia lifted off, we cheered loudly. As I watched the replays, I couldn't help thinking that this was the future. Now, tragically, its part of the past. It wasn't the politicians of either party that killed NASA, it was us. WE, as a nation lost our will, ridiculed those who dreamed, wasted time and accomplished nothing.
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Alan Bean it is. Thanks for the great video!! Thumbs way up!
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The "CBS News Special Report" V/O was the late Bill Gilliand.
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