Space transport at last.
Problems with developing the Space Shuttle's main engines and
in use of the heat-shield tiles delayed the initial launch of
the Shuttle by three years. Finally a launch date was
set for April 10, 1981, but as if to prove how similar the Shuttle
was to other forms of "commuter" transport, the launch was postponed
and the first shuttle mission, STS-1, launched on April 12th with
a crew of two astronauts - John Young and Robert Crippen.
PS: There wasn't really anyone waiting to be picked up, but if
there was, they may have well have felt as above! Even if, all in all,
it was a job well done...
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