{"id":168349,"date":"2021-11-12T13:55:00","date_gmt":"2021-11-12T17:55:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/?migration=converted-node-475324"},"modified":"2023-09-15T10:31:14","modified_gmt":"2023-09-15T14:31:14","slug":"40-years-ago-columbia-returns-to-space-on-the-sts-2-mission","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/40-years-ago-columbia-returns-to-space-on-the-sts-2-mission\/","title":{"rendered":"40 Years Ago: Columbia Returns to Space on the STS-2 Mission"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/40-years-ago-one-week-before-columbias-return-to-space-sts-2-launch-scrub\/\">launch scrub<\/a> a week earlier, space shuttle Columbia took to the skies on Nov. 12, 1981, for its second trip into space. Astronauts <a href=\"https:\/\/historycollection.jsc.nasa.gov\/JSCHistoryPortal\/history\/oral_histories\/EngleJH\/englejh.htm\" rel=\"noopener\">Joe H. Engle<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/historycollection.jsc.nasa.gov\/JSCHistoryPortal\/history\/oral_histories\/NASA_HQ\/Administrators\/TrulyRH\/trulyrh.htm\" rel=\"noopener\">Richard H. Truly<\/a> rode the reusable, orbital, spacecraft on a pillar of fire from Launch Pad 39A at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida. Their planned five-day mission had to be curtailed to just two days following the failure of one of Columbia\u2019s three fuel cells. Despite the shortened flight, Engle and Truly operated the first science payloads aboard a space shuttle and conducted the first tests of the Canadian-built Remote Manipulator System (RMS). They brought Columbia safely home to a landing at NASA\u2019s Dryden Flight Research Facility, now NASA\u2019s Armstrong Flight Research Facility, at Edwards Air Force Base in California, where ground crews began to prepare the ship for its next mission to space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/sts_2_1_crew_photo_s81-34641.jpg\" alt=\"sts_2_crew_photo\" width=\"287\" height=\"230\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/sts_2_2_crew_patch_s81-39418.jpg\" alt=\"crew_patch\" width=\"256\" height=\"230\"><br><em>Left: Official crew photo of the STS-2 crew of Joe H. Engle, left, and Richard H. Truly. Right: Official crew patch of the STS-2 mission.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Following the Nov. 4, 1981 scrub caused by problems with two of Columbia\u2019s Auxiliary Power Units, engineers flushed the gear boxes and replaced filters in the units, and managers reset the launch for Nov. 12. Engle and Truly arrived back at KSC on Nov. 10. The next day, ground crews found a problem with a Multiplexer De-Multiplexer (MDM), a data management device aboard Columbia. A spare MDM also failed, so a unit from space shuttle Challenger, then under construction in Palmdale, California, was flown in and installed in Columbia. This delayed the launch by nearly three hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/sts_2_3_81pc-915_nov_12_1981.jpg\" alt=\"sts 2\" width=\"242\" height=\"190\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/sts_2_4_81pc-943_nov_12_1981.jpg\" alt=\"sts 2\" width=\"242\" height=\"190\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/sts_2_5_81pc-952_nov_12_1981.jpg\" alt=\"sts 2\" width=\"242\" height=\"190\"><br><em><em>Left: STS-2 astronauts Richard H. Truly, left, and Joe H. Engle enjoying the traditional prelaunch breakfast,<\/em><\/em> <em>the room decorated in honor of Truly\u2019s 44th birthday. Middle: Following breakfast, Truly, left, and Engle don their pressure suits, this room also decorated to celebrate Truly\u2019s birthday. Right: Truly, left, and Engle in the White Room at Launch Pad 39A, also festooned with a birthday greeting. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The launch day coincided with Truly\u2019s 44th birthday, and he became the first person ever to fly to space on his birthday. Ground crews helped him celebrate the occasion by decorating various rooms in KSC\u2019s Operations and Checkout Building, and even the White Room at the launch pad, for the occasion as he and Engle prepared for the liftoff. Launch managers held the final countdown for a few minutes at T-minus nine minutes to clear up some minor technical issues before issuing a \u201cGo\u201d for launch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/sts_2_6_s81-39548_nov_12_1981.jpg\" alt=\"sts 2\" width=\"220\" height=\"220\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/sts_2_7_81hc-919_nov_12_1981.jpg\" alt=\"sts 2\" width=\"332\" height=\"220\"><br> <em>Left: Liftoff of STS-2 as Columbia returns to space. Right: In Firing Room 1 of the Launch Control Center at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, engineers turn to watch the ascent of Columbia once the shuttle cleared the launch tower and control was handed over to the Mission Control Center at NASA\u2019s Johnson Space Center in Houston. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At 10:10 a.m. EST on Nov. 12, 1981, exactly seven months after the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/40-years-ago-columbia-takes-flight\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"168350\">launch of STS-1<\/a>, Columbia\u2019s main engines roared to life and the world\u2019s first reusable, orbital, spacecraft lived up to its name. As soon as the shuttle cleared the launch tower, control handed over to the Mission Control Center (MCC) at NASA\u2019s Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston. The Silver Team of flight controllers led by ascent Flight Director <a href=\"https:\/\/historycollection.jsc.nasa.gov\/JSCHistoryPortal\/history\/oral_histories\/HutchinsonNB\/hutchinsonnb.htm\" rel=\"noopener\">Neil B. Hutchinson<\/a> monitored Columbia\u2019s launch, with capsule communicator (capcom) astronaut <a href=\"https:\/\/historycollection.jsc.nasa.gov\/JSCHistoryPortal\/history\/oral_histories\/BrandensteinDC\/brandensteindc.htm\" rel=\"noopener\">Daniel C. Brandenstein<\/a> relaying milestone events to Engle and Truly aboard the shuttle. Nine minutes after liftoff, Columbia\u2019s main engines cut off and the large external tankjettisoned away from the spacecraft. The space shuttle had reached space but was not yet in orbit, that job left for Columbia\u2019s Orbital Maneuvering System (OMS) engines to complete. The next major task involved opening the orbiter\u2019s payload bay doors to allow the radiators mounted inside them to cool the vehicle. Mission Control gave Engle and Truly a go to stay in orbit. They could now remove their launch and entry pressure suits and change into more comfortable flight suits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/sts_2_8_mission_mcc_fd1_s81-39494.jpg\" alt=\"mission_mcc\" width=\"273\" height=\"180\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/sts_2_9_mission_mcc_capcoms_buchli_ride_s81-39501_nov_13_1981.jpg\" alt=\"mission_mcc_capcoms_buchli_ride\" width=\"276\" height=\"180\"><br> <em>Left: The Mission Control Center at NASA\u2019s Johnson Space Center in Houston during the STS-2 mission. Right: Capsule communicators (capcoms) James F. Buchli, left, and Sally K. Ride, the first woman to serve in that position.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>About five hours into the mission, one of Columbia\u2019s three power-generating fuel cells began to act erratically and capcom Brandenstein instructed Engle and Truly to shut it off. Flight rules stated that with only two working fuel cells, only a so-called minimum mission was permissible, meaning that instead of five days in orbit, Engle and Truly would have to bring Columbia home after 54 hours. Many high-priority activities moved up to be completed during the mission\u2019s two days. Engle and Truly conducted two OMS tests, one to shut it down and start it up again four minutes later. Then they deactivated the faulty fuel cell, taking it permanently offline. Flight Director Donald R. Puddy\u2019s Crimson Team of controllers took over the consoles in Mission Control, with astronaut <a href=\"https:\/\/historycollection.jsc.nasa.gov\/JSCHistoryPortal\/history\/oral_histories\/HauckFH\/hauckfh.htm\" rel=\"noopener\">Frederick H. \u201cRick\u201d Hauck<\/a> serving as capcom. Shortly before Engle and Truly went to bed for their first sleep period in space, Mission Control played a taped birthday greeting sung by the high school chorus in Forest, Mississippi, the hometown of Truly\u2019s father and stepmother. Truly replied to capcom Hauck, \u201cThat\u2019s beautiful. Please thank them and tell them I couldn\u2019t have had a nicer birthday than this one. Appreciate it.\u201d Engle and Truly then went to sleep in their seats on the flight deck. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/40-years-ago-sts-2-to-fly-the-first-space-shuttle-payloads\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"168371\">OSTA-1 payloads<\/a> in the payload bay, activated earlier in the day, continued to gather data overnight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/sts_2_10_payload_bay_s02-09-528.jpg\" alt=\"payload_bay\" width=\"220\" height=\"220\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/sts_2_11_rms_ops_s02-13-225.jpg\" alt=\"rms_ops\" width=\"219\" height=\"220\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/sts_2_12_rms_ops_s02-12-834.jpg\" alt=\"rms_ops\" width=\"220\" height=\"220\"><br> <em>Left: The OSTA-1 payload in Columbia\u2019s cargo bay. Middle: First use of the Canadian-built Remote Manipulator System (RMS). Right: The RMS deployed over Columbia\u2019s payload bay.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While the crew slept, in Mission Control the Bronze Team led by Flight Director Charles R. \u201cChuck\u201d Lewis took over the consoles, with astronauts <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/buchli_james_0.pdf?emrc=29afd0\">James F. Buchli<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/former-astronaut-sally-ride\/\" data-type=\"topic\" data-id=\"258752\">Sally K. Ride<\/a> serving as capcoms. Ride became the first woman to serve in the role of capcom. Mission Control began the crew\u2019s day by playing \u201cPigs in Space\u201d as a wake-up call, a comedy routine by The Muppets arranged by Ride. First-time space flyers Engle and Truly reported they had a comfortable first night\u2019s sleep aboard Columbia, telling capcoms Buchli and Ride, \u201cwe did get plenty of sleep last night, but it\u2019s hard to sleep with all the opportunities to watch things.\u201d Their first task of the day involved activating the RMS for its first in-orbit workout. With Truly controlling the 50-foot-long arm from Columbia\u2019s aft flight deck, he deployed and stowed it again as an initial test, reporting, \u201cIt\u2019s running very smoothly.\u201d Truly then unstowed the arm, with TV cameras in the payload bay and on the arm\u2019s wrist and elbow joints providing flight controllers with a great view of its movements. During the testing, Ride informed the crew that mission managers had made the final decision that due to the fuel cell problem, the flight would be the 54-hour minimum mission. After both Truly and Engle had a chance to operate the arm, Truly guided it back into its cradle, its first inflight testing a success. Flight Director Hutchinson and his team resumed their console positions, with astronaut <a href=\"https:\/\/historycollection.jsc.nasa.gov\/JSCHistoryPortal\/history\/oral_histories\/HartTJ\/harttj.htm\" rel=\"noopener\">Terry J. \u201cTJ\u201d Hart<\/a> now serving as capcom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/sts_2_13_reagan_in_mcc_w_kraft_s81-39504_nov_13_1981.jpg\" alt=\"reagan_in_mcc_w_kraft\" width=\"277\" height=\"220\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/sts_2_14_s81-39505_nov_13_1981_cropped.jpg\" alt=\"sts 2\" width=\"281\" height=\"220\"><br><em>Left: During a visit to the Mission Control Center (MCC) at NASA\u2019s Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston, President Ronald W. Reagan, left, listens as JSC Director Christopher C. Kraft describes the functions of the MCC. Right: President Reagan talks to the STS-2 crew of Joe H. Engle and Richard H. Truly during the mission\u2019s second day.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>President Ronald W. Reagan became the first sitting Chief Executive to step onto the floor of the MCC during an actual mission when he visited JSC on Nov. 13, 1981, the crew\u2019s second day aboard Columbia. Accompanied by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/40-years-ago-james-beggs-sworn-in-as-nasa-administrator\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"168352\">NASA Administrator James M. Beggs<\/a>, the President received a tour of the MCC provided by JSC Director Christopher C. Kraft, the man responsible for developing the concept of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/?migration=converted-node-474289\" data-type=\"migration\" data-id=\"168613\">mission control<\/a>. President Reagan chatted with Engle and Truly for a few minutes, jokingly asking them if they could stop by Washington, D.C., and pick him up on their way to California. The President added, \u201cI\u2019m sure you know how proud everyone down here is and how \u2026 America has got its eyes and its heart on you.\u201d Following his chat with the astronauts, he spoke a few words with their wives, Mary Catherine Engle and Cody Truly, before leaving the MCC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/sts_2_15_engle_making_tea_s02-02-868.jpg\" alt=\"engle_making_tea\" width=\"172\" height=\"260\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/sts_2_16_truly_reading_tags_s02-02-866.jpg\" alt=\"truly_reading_tags\" width=\"392\" height=\"260\"><br><em>Left: Astronaut Joe H. Engle preparing tea in Columbia\u2019s middeck. Right: Astronaut Richard H. Truly reads a printout of the day\u2019s activities in Columbia\u2019s middeck.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For the remainder of the day, Engle and Truly conducted additional evaluations of the orbiter, such as tests of the Reaction Control System (RCS) thrusters, and took photographs of the Earth below. Engle also replaced a failed cathode ray tube (CRT) display on the flight deck. The OSTA-1 payload experiments continued to gather data. After the successful CRT repair, Engle jokingly requested that he be allowed to go and fix the failed fuel cell as well, to allow a full-duration mission. Mission Control politely ignored his offer. After a very busy day, Engle and Truly settled down for their last night\u2019s sleep in space. In MCC, Flight Director Lewis\u2019 Bronze Team, with astronaut <a href=\"https:\/\/historycollection.jsc.nasa.gov\/JSCHistoryPortal\/history\/oral_histories\/HartsfieldHW\/hartsfieldhw.htm\" rel=\"noopener\">Henry W. \u201cHank\u201d Hartsfield<\/a> joining Buchli as capcom, replaced Hutchinson\u2019s Silver Team on console.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/sts_2_17_cyprus_s02-12-688.jpg\" alt=\"cyprus\" width=\"221\" height=\"220\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/sts_2_18_strait_of_hormuz_s02-12-762.jpg\" alt=\"strait_of_hormuz\" width=\"220\" height=\"220\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/sts_2_19_tokyo_bay_s02-09-392.jpg\" alt=\"tokyo_bay\" width=\"220\" height=\"220\"><br><em>Three views of Earth taken by the STS-2 astronauts \u2013 the Island of Cyprus in the Mediterranean Sea, left, the Strait of Hormuz, and Tokyo, Japan.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The crew\u2019s landing day wake up music began with a rendition of \u201cColumbia, Gem of the Ocean,\u201d performed by the Flight Operations Directorate group \u201cContraband,\u201d followed by the second part of The Muppets\u2019 \u201cPigs in Space\u201d comedy routine. Flight Director Puddy\u2019s Crimson Team of controllers, including capcoms Hauck and <a href=\"https:\/\/historycollection.jsc.nasa.gov\/JSCHistoryPortal\/history\/oral_histories\/NagelSR\/nagelsr.htm\" rel=\"noopener\">Steven R. Nagel<\/a>, took their console positions to guide Engle and Truly through the reentry and landing of Columbia at what is now NASA\u2019s Armstrong Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base in California. Early on entry day, Engle deactivated the OSTA-1 payloads in preparation for landing. They closed the payload bay doors, donned their pressure suits, maneuvered Columbia so it was flying tail first, and fired its OMS engines over the Indian Ocean for nearly three minutes to drop it out of orbit. Twenty-seven minutes later, Columbia encountered the first tendrils of the Earth\u2019s upper atmosphere at an altitude of 400,000 feet. The heat of reentry caused a sheath of ionized plasma to form around the vehicle, blocking communications for 16 minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/sts_2_20_s81-39563_nov_14_1981.jpg\" alt=\"sts 2\" width=\"185\" height=\"185\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/sts_2_21_s81-40474_nov_14_1981.jpg\" alt=\"sts 2\" width=\"246\" height=\"185\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/sts_2_22_81-hc-937_nov_14_1981.jpg\" alt=\"sts 2\" width=\"235\" height=\"185\"><br> <em>Left: View of Columbia during final approach to NASA\u2019s Dryden Flight Research Center, now NASA\u2019s Armstrong Flight Research Center, in California, taken by astronaut <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/historycollection.jsc.nasa.gov\/JSCHistoryPortal\/history\/oral_histories\/SullivanKD\/sullivankd.htm\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Kathryn D. Sullivan<\/em><\/a><em> from a T-38 Talon chase plane. Middle: Columbia touches down on the dry lakebed runway. Right: Columbia on its final rollout.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Engle, together with the spacecraft\u2019s computer, guided Columbia through a series of aerodynamic maneuvers in the hypersonic and supersonic phases of the entry to obtain information about the vehicle\u2019s handling characteristics. Engle reported that the \u201cmaneuvers have been going very good [sic]. The bird is real solid.\u201d Engle manually guided Columbia through a sweeping turn called the Heading Alignment Circle to line up with Dryden\u2019s Runway 23. At about 400 feet, Truly lowered the landing gear and a few seconds later, Columbia\u2019s main gear touched down on the dry lakebed runway, kicking up a cloud of dust. As Columbia continued to roll down the runway, Engle lowered the spacecraft\u2019s nose, applied gentle brakes, and brought the vehicle to a stop after a 7,000-foot rollout. The STS-2 mission ended after 54 hours, 13 minutes. An estimated 200,000 people were on hand to watch Columbia\u2019s second landing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/sts_2_23_s81-39506_nov_14_1981.jpg\" alt=\"sts 2\" width=\"520\" height=\"260\"><br><em>View of Mission Control at NASA\u2019s Johnson Space Center in Houston after the landing of Columbia, ending the STS-2 mission.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Flight controllers in Mission Control in Houston erupted in cheers following Columbia\u2019s successful landing. Capcom Nagel helped Engle and Truly deactivate the vehicle\u2019s systems as ground crews at Dryden arrived on the runway to safe it from hazardous materials so the crew could exit the spacecraft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/sts_2_24_s81-39580_nov_14_1981.jpg\" alt=\"sts 2\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/sts_2_25_s81-39582_nov_14_1981.jpg\" alt=\"sts 2\" width=\"220\" height=\"200\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/sts_2_26_post_landing_walkaround_nov_14_1981.jpg\" alt=\"post_landing_walkaround\" width=\"256\" height=\"200\"><br><em>Left: Astronauts Joe H. Engle, left, and Richard H. Truly disembark from Columbia following the conclusion of the STS-2 mission. Middle: George W.S. Abbey, Director of Flight Crew Operations at NASA\u2019s Johnson Space Center, right, greets Truly and Engle. Right: Engle, left, and Truly during the postlanding walkaround, accompanied by Abbey.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After being instructed that it was safe to exit the vehicle, Truly and Engle climbed out of Columbia and bounded down the stairs of the access vehicle. Director of Flight Crew Operations at JSC George W.S. Abbey greeted them at the bottom of the stairs and the trio conducted a walkaround inspection of Columbia, finding it in remarkably good condition. Ground teams drove Engle and Truly to Dryden facilities where they changed out of their pressure suits and boarded a jet for the trip back to Houston.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/sts_2_27_s81-39542_nov_14_1981.jpg\" alt=\"sts 2\" width=\"286\" height=\"190\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/sts_2_28_s81-39544_nov_15_1981.jpg\" alt=\"sts 2\" width=\"286\" height=\"190\"><br><em>Left: Joe H. Engle, left, and Richard H. Truly and their families are greeted by well-wishers after their arrival at Ellington Air Force Base in Houston, as Christopher C. Kraft, director of NASA\u2019s Johnson Space Center (JSC) addresses the crowd. Right: The morning after returning from space, Engle, left, and Truly, right, enjoy breakfast with Vice President George H.W. Bush at JSC.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hundreds of well-wishers greeted Engle and Truly when they arrived at Ellington Air Force Base near JSC. Reunited with their families, they returned to their homes for their first night\u2019s sleep back on Earth. The next morning, they had breakfast with Vice President George H.W. Bush, who was visiting JSC \u2013 the first back-to-back visits to JSC of the nation\u2019s top two executives. The STS-1 crew of John W. Young and Robert L. Crippen also attended the breakfast with the Vice President.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"276\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/sts_2_29_columbia_departs_dryden_nov_1981.jpg\" alt=\"columbia_departs_dryden_nov_1981\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"205\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/sts_2_30_columbia_arrives_slf_ksc_nov_25_1981.jpg\" alt=\"columbia_arrives_slf_ksc_nov_25_1981\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"203\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/sts_2_31_ksc_mdd_nov_25_1981.jpg\" alt=\"ksc_mdd_nov_25_1981\"><br><em>Left: Riding atop the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA), space shuttle Columbia departs from NASA\u2019s Dryden Flight Research Center, now NASA\u2019s Armstrong Flight Research Center in California, for its cross-country trip to NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Middle: Columbia, atop its SCA, arrives at KSC\u2019s Shuttle Landing Facility. Right: Ground crews tow the SCA into the mate-demate device to lift Columbia from the back of the aircraft.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ground crews at Dryden towed Columbia from the runway to a service area to begin preparing it for its cross-country trip back to KSC. After workers mounted it atop the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, a modified Boeing-747, Columbia left Dryden and arrived at KSC on Nov. 25, just 11 days after its landing in California. Workers towed it to the Orbiter Processing Facility to start preparing it for its next mission, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/mission\/sts-3\/\" data-type=\"mission\" data-id=\"255646\">STS-3<\/a>, planned for March 1982.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"nasa-gb-align-center nasa-button-link padding-y-1 padding-x-0 hds-module wp-block-nasa-blocks-related-link\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=QPHhVgtsAw4\" target=\"_self\" class=\"button-primary button-primary-md link-external-true\" aria-label=\"Watch Engle and Truly narrate a video of their mission\" rel=\"noopener\">\n\t\t<span class=\"line-height-alt-1\">Watch Engle and Truly narrate a video of their mission<\/span>\n\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"button-primary-circle\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t<\/a>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-about-the-author nasa-gb-align-full width-full maxw-full padding-x-3 padding-y-6 hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-about-the-author\"><div class=\"grid-row grid-container maxw-widescreen padding-x-0 border-top-1px border-color-carbon-black padding-top-3\"><div class=\"margin-bottom-4\"><h3 class=\"heading-14\">About the Author<\/h3><\/div><\/div><div class=\"grid-row grid-container padding-x-0 maxw-widescreen\"><div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-6 desktop:padding-right-9\"><div class=\"grid-row\"><div class=\"hds-author-thumbnail mobile:circle-6 mobile:maxw-6 circle-card maxw-card thumbnail margin-right-2 desktop:margin-right-5\"><\/div><div class=\"grid-col\"><div class=\"margin-bottom-2\"><h2 class=\"heading-29 line-height-sm\">John Uri<\/h2><\/div><div class=\"heading-12 p-md\">Johnson Space Center<\/div><div class=\"padding-y-2\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"desktop:grid-col-6 desktop:padding-right-9\"><p class=\"margin-top-0\"><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"nasa-gb-align-full width-full maxw-full padding-x-3 padding-y-0 article_a hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-credits-and-details\">\n<section class=\"padding-x-0 padding-top-5 padding-bottom-2 desktop:padding-top-7 desktop:padding-bottom-9\">\n\t<div class=\"grid-row grid-container maxw-widescreen padding-0\">\n\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-2 padding-right-4 margin-bottom-5 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-top-3 border-top-1px border-color-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"heading-14\">Share<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"social-icons social-icons-round\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"social-icon social-icon-x\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/intent\/tweet?via=NASA&text=40%20Years%20Ago%3A%20Columbia%20Returns%20to%20Space%20on%20the%20STS-2%20Mission&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nasa.gov%2Fhistory%2F40-years-ago-columbia-returns-to-space-on-the-sts-2-mission%2F\" aria-label=\"Share on X.\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg width=\"1200\" height=\"1227\" viewBox=\"0 0 1200 1227\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M714.163 519.284L1160.89 0H1055.03L667.137 450.887L357.328 0H0L468.492 681.821L0 1226.37H105.866L515.491 750.218L842.672 1226.37H1200L714.137 519.284H714.163ZM569.165 687.828L521.697 619.934L144.011 79.6944H306.615L611.412 515.685L658.88 583.579L1055.08 1150.3H892.476L569.165 687.854V687.828Z\" fill=\"white\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"social-icon social-icon-facebook\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nasa.gov%2Fhistory%2F40-years-ago-columbia-returns-to-space-on-the-sts-2-mission%2F\" aria-label=\"Share on Facebook.\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M9 8h-3v4h3v12h5v-12h3.642l.358-4h-4v-1.667c0-.955.192-1.333 1.115-1.333h2.885v-5h-3.808c-3.596 0-5.192 1.583-5.192 4.615v3.385z\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"social-icon social-icon-linkedin\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nasa.gov%2Fhistory%2F40-years-ago-columbia-returns-to-space-on-the-sts-2-mission%2F\" aria-label=\"Share on LinkedIn.\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M4.98 3.5c0 1.381-1.11 2.5-2.48 2.5s-2.48-1.119-2.48-2.5c0-1.38 1.11-2.5 2.48-2.5s2.48 1.12 2.48 2.5zm.02 4.5h-5v16h5v-16zm7.982 0h-4.968v16h4.969v-8.399c0-4.67 6.029-5.052 6.029 0v8.399h4.988v-10.131c0-7.88-8.922-7.593-11.018-3.714v-2.155z\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"social-icon social-icon-rss\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"\/feed\/\" aria-label=\"Subscribe to RSS feed.\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 800 800\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M493 652H392c0-134-111-244-244-244V307c189 0 345 156 345 345zm71 0c0-228-188-416-416-416V132c285 0 520 235 520 520z\"\/><circle cx=\"219\" cy=\"581\" r=\"71\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-5 padding-right-4 margin-bottom-5 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-top-3 border-top-1px border-color-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"heading-14\">Details<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row margin-bottom-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-4\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"subheading\">Last Updated<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-8\">Sep 15, 2023<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-5 padding-right-4 margin-bottom-5 desktop:margin-bottom-0\"><div class=\"padding-top-3 border-top-1px border-color-carbon-black \"><div class=\"margin-bottom-2\"><h2 class=\"heading-14\">Related Terms<\/h2><\/div><ul class=\"article-tags\"><li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/\">NASA History<\/a><\/li><li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/humans-in-space\/astronauts\/former-astronauts\/joe-h-engle\/\">Joe H. Engle<\/a><\/li><li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/former-astronaut-richard-truly\/\">Richard H. Truly<\/a><\/li><li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/missions\/space-shuttle\/\">Space Shuttle<\/a><\/li><li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/mission\/sts-2\/\">STS-2<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\t<\/div>\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"nasa-gb-align-full width-full maxw-full padding-x-3 padding-y-0 hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-related-articles\">\t\t<section class=\"hds-related-articles padding-x-0 padding-y-3 desktop:padding-top-7 desktop:padding-bottom-9\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"w-100 grid-row grid-container maxw-widescreen padding-0 text-align-left\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-4\"><h2 style=\"max-width: 100%;\" class=\"width-full w-full maxw-full\">Explore More<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row grid-container maxw-widescreen padding-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-4 margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0 desktop:padding-right-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/the-1980s-all-eyes-focus-on-space-shuttle\/\" class=\"color-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black minh-mobile\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/662686main_81pc0136.jpg?w=300\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/662686main_81pc0136.jpg 2700w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/662686main_81pc0136.jpg?resize=300,240 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/662686main_81pc0136.jpg?resize=768,614 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/662686main_81pc0136.jpg?resize=1024,819 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/662686main_81pc0136.jpg?resize=1536,1229 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/662686main_81pc0136.jpg?resize=2048,1638 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/662686main_81pc0136.jpg?resize=400,320 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/662686main_81pc0136.jpg?resize=600,480 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/662686main_81pc0136.jpg?resize=900,720 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/662686main_81pc0136.jpg?resize=1200,960 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/662686main_81pc0136.jpg?resize=2000,1600 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" loading=\"eager\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-right-0 desktop:padding-right-10\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"subheading margin-bottom-1\">6 min read<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-1\"><h3 class=\"related-article-title\">The 1980s: All Eyes Focus on Space Shuttle<\/h3><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"display-flex flex-align-center label related-article-label margin-bottom-1 color-carbon-60\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"display-flex flex-align-center margin-right-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg version=\"1.1\" class=\"square-2 margin-right-1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" style=\"enable-background:new 0 0 16 16;\" xml:space=\"preserve\"><g><g><path d=\"M8,0C3.5,0-0.1,3.7,0,8.2C0.1,12.5,3.6,16,8,16c4.4,0,8-3.6,8-8C16,3.5,12.4,0,8,0z M8,15.2 C4,15.2,0.8,12,0.8,8C0.8,4,4,0.8,8,0.8c3.9,0,7.2,3.2,7.2,7.1C15.2,11.9,12,15.2,8,15.2z\"\/><path d=\"M5.6,12c0.8-0.8,1.6-1.6,2.4-2.4c0.8,0.8,1.6,1.6,2.4,2.4c0-2.7,0-5.3,0-8C8.8,4,7.2,4,5.6,4 C5.6,6.7,5.6,9.3,5.6,12z\"\/><\/g><\/g><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Article<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t1 year ago\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-4 margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0 desktop:padding-right-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/students-simulate-shuttle-missions-in-1980s\/\" class=\"color-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black minh-mobile\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/grc-1985-c-04538.jpg?w=300\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/grc-1985-c-04538.jpg 3201w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/grc-1985-c-04538.jpg?resize=300,150 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/grc-1985-c-04538.jpg?resize=768,385 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/grc-1985-c-04538.jpg?resize=1024,513 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/grc-1985-c-04538.jpg?resize=1536,769 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/grc-1985-c-04538.jpg?resize=2048,1026 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/grc-1985-c-04538.jpg?resize=400,200 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/grc-1985-c-04538.jpg?resize=600,300 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/grc-1985-c-04538.jpg?resize=900,451 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/grc-1985-c-04538.jpg?resize=1200,601 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/grc-1985-c-04538.jpg?resize=2000,1002 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-right-0 desktop:padding-right-10\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"subheading margin-bottom-1\">3 min read<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-1\"><h3 class=\"related-article-title\">Students Simulate Shuttle Missions in 1980s<\/h3><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"display-flex flex-align-center label related-article-label margin-bottom-1 color-carbon-60\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"display-flex flex-align-center margin-right-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg version=\"1.1\" class=\"square-2 margin-right-1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" style=\"enable-background:new 0 0 16 16;\" xml:space=\"preserve\"><g><g><path d=\"M8,0C3.5,0-0.1,3.7,0,8.2C0.1,12.5,3.6,16,8,16c4.4,0,8-3.6,8-8C16,3.5,12.4,0,8,0z M8,15.2 C4,15.2,0.8,12,0.8,8C0.8,4,4,0.8,8,0.8c3.9,0,7.2,3.2,7.2,7.1C15.2,11.9,12,15.2,8,15.2z\"\/><path d=\"M5.6,12c0.8-0.8,1.6-1.6,2.4-2.4c0.8,0.8,1.6,1.6,2.4,2.4c0-2.7,0-5.3,0-8C8.8,4,7.2,4,5.6,4 C5.6,6.7,5.6,9.3,5.6,12z\"\/><\/g><\/g><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Article<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t4 years ago\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-4 margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0 desktop:padding-right-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/sts-8-the-first-shuttle-night-launch-landing\/\" class=\"color-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black minh-mobile\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1254\" src=\"https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/s83-38479\/s83-38479~large.jpg?w=1920&h=1254&fit=clip&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/s83-38479\/s83-38479~large.jpg?w=1920&h=1254&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1920w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/s83-38479\/s83-38479~large.jpg?w=300&h=196&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 300w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/s83-38479\/s83-38479~large.jpg?w=768&h=502&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 768w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/s83-38479\/s83-38479~large.jpg?w=1024&h=669&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1024w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/s83-38479\/s83-38479~large.jpg?w=1536&h=1003&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1536w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/s83-38479\/s83-38479~large.jpg?w=400&h=261&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 400w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/s83-38479\/s83-38479~large.jpg?w=600&h=392&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 600w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/s83-38479\/s83-38479~large.jpg?w=900&h=588&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 900w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/s83-38479\/s83-38479~large.jpg?w=1200&h=784&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-right-0 desktop:padding-right-10\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"subheading margin-bottom-1\">3 min read<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-1\"><h3 class=\"related-article-title\">STS 8: The First Shuttle Night Launch & Landing<\/h3><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"display-flex flex-align-center label related-article-label margin-bottom-1 color-carbon-60\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"display-flex flex-align-center margin-right-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg version=\"1.1\" class=\"square-2 margin-right-1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" style=\"enable-background:new 0 0 16 16;\" xml:space=\"preserve\"><g><g><path d=\"M8,0C3.5,0-0.1,3.7,0,8.2C0.1,12.5,3.6,16,8,16c4.4,0,8-3.6,8-8C16,3.5,12.4,0,8,0z M8,15.2 C4,15.2,0.8,12,0.8,8C0.8,4,4,0.8,8,0.8c3.9,0,7.2,3.2,7.2,7.1C15.2,11.9,12,15.2,8,15.2z\"\/><path d=\"M5.6,12c0.8-0.8,1.6-1.6,2.4-2.4c0.8,0.8,1.6,1.6,2.4,2.4c0-2.7,0-5.3,0-8C8.8,4,7.2,4,5.6,4 C5.6,6.7,5.6,9.3,5.6,12z\"\/><\/g><\/g><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Article<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t6 years ago\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-4 margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0 desktop:padding-right-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/35-years-ago-sts-51j-first-flight-of-space-shuttle-atlantis\/\" class=\"color-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black minh-mobile\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"237\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/atlantis_palmdale_rollout_apr_6_1985_51-j_clip_042.jpg?w=300\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/atlantis_palmdale_rollout_apr_6_1985_51-j_clip_042.jpg 985w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/atlantis_palmdale_rollout_apr_6_1985_51-j_clip_042.jpg?resize=300,237 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/atlantis_palmdale_rollout_apr_6_1985_51-j_clip_042.jpg?resize=768,607 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/atlantis_palmdale_rollout_apr_6_1985_51-j_clip_042.jpg?resize=400,316 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/atlantis_palmdale_rollout_apr_6_1985_51-j_clip_042.jpg?resize=600,474 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/atlantis_palmdale_rollout_apr_6_1985_51-j_clip_042.jpg?resize=900,711 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-right-0 desktop:padding-right-10\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"subheading margin-bottom-1\">4 min read<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-1\"><h3 class=\"related-article-title\">35 Years Ago: STS-51J \u2013 First Flight of Space Shuttle Atlantis<\/h3><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"display-flex flex-align-center label related-article-label margin-bottom-1 color-carbon-60\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"display-flex flex-align-center margin-right-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg version=\"1.1\" class=\"square-2 margin-right-1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" style=\"enable-background:new 0 0 16 16;\" xml:space=\"preserve\"><g><g><path d=\"M8,0C3.5,0-0.1,3.7,0,8.2C0.1,12.5,3.6,16,8,16c4.4,0,8-3.6,8-8C16,3.5,12.4,0,8,0z M8,15.2 C4,15.2,0.8,12,0.8,8C0.8,4,4,0.8,8,0.8c3.9,0,7.2,3.2,7.2,7.1C15.2,11.9,12,15.2,8,15.2z\"\/><path d=\"M5.6,12c0.8-0.8,1.6-1.6,2.4-2.4c0.8,0.8,1.6,1.6,2.4,2.4c0-2.7,0-5.3,0-8C8.8,4,7.2,4,5.6,4 C5.6,6.7,5.6,9.3,5.6,12z\"\/><\/g><\/g><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Article<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t4 years ago\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-topic-cards nasa-gb-align-full maxw-full width-full padding-y-6 padding-x-3 color-mode-dark hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-topic-cards\">\t\t<div class=\"grid-container grid-container-block-lg padding-x-0\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row flex-align-center margin-bottom-3\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"desktop:grid-col-8 margin-bottom-2 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"label color-carbon-60 margin-bottom-2\">Keep Exploring<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"heading-36 line-height-sm\">Discover More Topics From NASA<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row grid-gap-2 hds-topic-cards-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Missions<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/plugins\/nasa-blocks\/assets\/images\/topic-cards\/topic-card-sample-1.jpg\" ><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Humans in Space<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/plugins\/nasa-blocks\/assets\/images\/topic-cards\/topic-card-sample-2.jpg\" ><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>NASA History<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"983\" height=\"1223\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/as11-40-5903_alt2.jpg?w=983\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/as11-40-5903_alt2.jpg 983w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/as11-40-5903_alt2.jpg?resize=241,300 241w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/as11-40-5903_alt2.jpg?resize=768,956 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/as11-40-5903_alt2.jpg?resize=823,1024 823w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/as11-40-5903_alt2.jpg?resize=322,400 322w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/as11-40-5903_alt2.jpg?resize=482,600 482w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/as11-40-5903_alt2.jpg?resize=723,900 723w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/as11-40-5903_alt2.jpg?resize=965,1200 965w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 983px) 100vw, 983px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/people-of-nasa\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>People of NASA<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1536\" height=\"1076\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/48430990887-e88ae5227f-k.jpg?w=1536\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/48430990887-e88ae5227f-k.jpg 2047w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/48430990887-e88ae5227f-k.jpg?resize=300,210 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/48430990887-e88ae5227f-k.jpg?resize=768,538 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/48430990887-e88ae5227f-k.jpg?resize=1024,717 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/48430990887-e88ae5227f-k.jpg?resize=1536,1076 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/48430990887-e88ae5227f-k.jpg?resize=400,280 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/48430990887-e88ae5227f-k.jpg?resize=600,420 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/48430990887-e88ae5227f-k.jpg?resize=900,630 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/48430990887-e88ae5227f-k.jpg?resize=1200,841 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/48430990887-e88ae5227f-k.jpg?resize=2000,1401 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Following a launch scrub a week earlier, space shuttle Columbia took to the skies on Nov. 12, 1981, for its second trip into space. Astronauts Joe H. Engle and Richard H. Truly rode the reusable, orbital, spacecraft on a pillar of fire from Launch Pad 39A at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida. Their […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":443,"featured_media":330407,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nasa_hds_core_meta_l10n":"en-US","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_editor":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_contacts":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_topic":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_linked_locations":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_related_articles":["264487","204114","168714","168346"],"hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_id":"","hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_type":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_x":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_y":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_gallery_images":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[2671,3521,3729,2725,3030],"news-tags":[],"internal-terms":[12664],"coauthors":[11996],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"40 Years Ago: Columbia Returns to Space on the STS-2 Mission","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/40-years-ago-columbia-returns-to-space-on-the-sts-2-mission\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/40-years-ago-columbia-returns-to-space-on-the-sts-2-mission\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/S81-34641\/S81-34641~large.jpg?w=1920&h=1535&fit=clip&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/S81-34641\/S81-34641~large.jpg?w=1920&h=1535&fit=clip&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint"},"articleSection":"NASA History","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"John Uri"}],"creator":["John Uri"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"NASA","logo":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/themes\/nasa\/assets\/images\/nasa-logo.svg"},"keywords":["Missions","Space Shuttle","STS-2","NASA History","Joe H. Engle","Richard H. Truly"],"dateCreated":"2021-11-12T17:55:00Z","datePublished":"2021-11-12T17:55:00Z","dateModified":"2023-09-15T14:31:14Z"},"rendered":"<meta name=\"parsely-title\" content=\"40 Years Ago: Columbia Returns to Space on the STS-2 Mission\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-link\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/40-years-ago-columbia-returns-to-space-on-the-sts-2-mission\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-type\" content=\"post\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-image-url\" content=\"https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/S81-34641\/S81-34641~large.jpg?w=1920&h=1535&fit=clip&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-pub-date\" content=\"2021-11-12T17:55:00Z\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-section\" content=\"NASA History\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-tags\" content=\"Missions,Space Shuttle,STS-2,NASA History,Joe H. Engle,Richard H. Truly\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-author\" content=\"John Uri\" \/>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/nasa.gov\/p.js"},"read_time":13,"time_ago":"3 years","featured_image":{"id":330407,"file":"https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/S81-34641\/S81-34641~large.jpg","title":"Official STS-2 Crew Portrait","alt":"Joe Engle and Richard Truly pose in front of an American Flag for their official STS-2 crew portrait","caption":"S81-34641 (May 1981) --- Astronauts Joe H. Engle, left, and Richard H. Truly are the commander and pilot, respectively, for the NASA STS-2 flight of the space shuttle Columbia, scheduled for Sept. 30, 1981 launch. Photo credit: NASA"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/168349"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/443"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=168349"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/168349\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":508703,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/168349\/revisions\/508703"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/330407"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=168349"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=168349"},{"taxonomy":"news-tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-tags?post=168349"},{"taxonomy":"internal-terms","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/internal-terms?post=168349"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=168349"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}