{"id":168372,"date":"2021-04-05T17:37:00","date_gmt":"2021-04-05T21:37:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/?migration=converted-node-469834"},"modified":"2024-04-09T12:55:06","modified_gmt":"2024-04-09T16:55:06","slug":"40-years-ago-the-countdown-begins-for-sts-1-first-launch-attempt-scrubbed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/40-years-ago-the-countdown-begins-for-sts-1-first-launch-attempt-scrubbed\/","title":{"rendered":"40 Years Ago: The Countdown Begins for STS-1; First Launch Attempt Scrubbed"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The countdown for the first launch of the space shuttle program began on April 5, 1981, targeting liftoff five days later. Following their arrival at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center (KSC) on April 8, the STS-1 crew of Commander <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/young_john.pdf?emrc=1bda00\">John W. Young<\/a> and Pilot <a href=\"https:\/\/historycollection.jsc.nasa.gov\/JSCHistoryPortal\/history\/oral_histories\/CrippenRL\/crippenrl.htm\" rel=\"noopener\">Robert L. Crippen<\/a> practiced landings and reviewed their mission timelines. Mission managers scrubbed the first launch attempt on April 10 due to a computer software problem. The crew and the rest of the team prepared for a second attempt two days later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"346\" height=\"230\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/sts-1_l-1_week_1_apr_6_1981_s81-29620.jpg\" alt=\"sts-1_l-1_week_1_apr_6_1981\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"352\" height=\"230\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/sts-1_l-1_week_2_young_crippen_jsc_mtg_apr_6_1981_s81-29619.jpg\" alt=\"sts-1_l-1_week_2_young_crippen_jsc_mtg_apr_6_1981\"><br><em>Left: STS-1 prime and backup crew members John W. Young, left, Robert L. Crippen, Joe H. Engle, and Richard H. Truly during a teleconference briefing at NASA\u2019s Johnson Space Center in Houston two days before their departure for NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Right: Young, left, and Crippen studying the briefing material.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At 11:30 p.m. ET on April 5, 1981, support crew astronauts <a href=\"https:\/\/historycollection.jsc.nasa.gov\/JSCHistoryPortal\/history\/oral_histories\/ShriverLJ\/shriverlj.htm\" rel=\"noopener\">Loren J. Shriver<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/onizuka_ellison.pdf?emrc=bb2d84\">Ellison S. Onizuka<\/a> in the cockpit of Columbia on KSC\u2019s Launch Pad 39A prepare the vehicle for Young and Crippen\u2019s flight established communications between the shuttle and the Mission Control Center (MCC) at NASA\u2019s Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston. Thus beginning the more than 4-day-long countdown for the launch of STS-1, planned to occur shortly after dawn on April 10. With the Rotating Service Structure (RSS) rolled into place around the shuttle on the pad, workers prepared the vehicle for its first flight by removing protective covers from windows and thrusters. Meanwhile, Young and Crippen, and their backups <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>, held their final briefings at JSC before departing for KSC for prelaunch preparations. Traveling in separate T-38 Talon aircraft, on April 8 they flew from Ellington Air Force Base (AFB) near JSC to Patrick AFB in Melbourne, Florida, near KSC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"165\" height=\"250\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/sts-1_l-1_week_3_sts1-0805-noid-4.7.81.jpg\" alt=\"sts-1_l-1_week_3_sts1-0805-noid-4.7.81\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"313\" height=\"250\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/sts-1_l-1_week_4_apr_7_1981_removing_window_cover_before_rss_rollback_75b_ksc-81pc-301.jpg\" alt=\"sts-1_l-1_week_4_apr_7_1981_removing_window_cover_before_rss_rollback\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"316\" height=\"250\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/sts-1_l-1_week_5_30_ksc-81pc-302_apr_7_1981.jpg\" alt=\"sts-1_l-1_week_5_30_ksc-81pc-302_apr_7_1981\"><br><em>Left: Space shuttle Columbia on Launch Pad 39A at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, with the Rotating Service Structure (RSS) in place to allow workers to access the vehicle. Middle: Working inside the RSS, technicians Mike Parrish, left, and Albert Baumgartner remove the protective coverings from Columbia\u2019s cockpit windows. Image credit: Ed Hengeveld. Right: Inside the RSS, technicians Don Murray and Don Porterfield remove protective covers from the forward thruster nozzles in Columbia\u2019s nose. <strong>Credit: Image courtesy of Ed Hengeveld<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"270\" height=\"230\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/sts-1_l-1_week_6_young_arriving_patrick_afb_apr_8_1981_75c_ksc-81pc-304.jpg\" alt=\"sts-1_l-1_week_6_young_arriving_patrick_afb_apr_8_1981\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"262\" height=\"230\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/sts-1_l-1_week_7_sts1-0824-81pc-303-4.8.81.jpg\" alt=\"sts-1_l-1_week_7_sts1-0824-81pc-303-4.8.81\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"261\" height=\"230\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/sts-1_l-1_week_8_0003_hengeveldphoto_cropped.jpg\" alt=\"sts-1_l-1_week_8_0003_hengeveldphoto_cropped\"><br><em>Left: STS-1 Commander John W. Young arrives at Patrick Air Force Base (AFB), Melbourne, Florida, in a T-38 Talon for the STS-1 launch. Middle: STS-1 Pilot Robert L. Crippen arrives at Patrick AFB in a separate T-38 for the STS-1 launch. Right: Young, left, and Crippen speak to reporters after arriving at Patrick AFB, as George W.S. Abbey, director of flight crew operations at NASA\u2019s Johnson Space Center in Houston, climbs down the ladder. <strong>Credit: Image courtesy of Ed Hengeveld<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The day after their arrival at KSC, Young and Crippen attended final briefings, and each flew about a dozen simulated landings at the Shuttle Landing Facility. They flew the Shuttle Training Aircraft, a Gulfstream II modified to simulate the handling characteristics of an orbiter during its final approach to the landing site. That evening, with much of the work on the shuttle vehicle completed, ground crews rolled back the RSS, revealing the space shuttle, its white external tank, and two solid rocket boosters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"332\" height=\"260\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/sts-1_l-1_week_9_sts1-0831a-81pc-308-young_flies_sta-4.9.81.jpg\" alt=\"sts-1_l-1_week_9_sts1-0831a-81pc-308-young_flies\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"330\" height=\"260\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/sts-1_l-1_week_10_0075d_hengeveld.jpg\" alt=\"sts-1_l-1_week_10_0075d_hengeveld\"><br><em>Left: STS-1 Commander John W. Young practicing landings using the Shuttle Training Aircraft (STA), a Gulfstream II modified to handle like a space shuttle, at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Right: With the Rotating Service Structure rolled back, the space shuttle stack is visible on Launch Pad 39A, the evening before the first launch attempt. <strong>Credit: Image courtesy of Ed Hengeveld<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the countdown proceeded smoothly, and engineers filled the large external tank with super cold liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen, Launch Test Director Norman Carlson instructed personnel in the crew quarters in the Operations and Checkout (O&C) Building to awaken Young and Crippen. After receiving a brief physical examination, they ate a traditional breakfast of steak and eggs with fellow astronauts and managers. Assisted by technicians, they donned their pressure suits and walked out of the O&C Building to the waiting astronaut van for the 15-minute ride out to Launch Pad 39A.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"316\" height=\"250\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/sts-1_l-1_week_11_sts1-0865-81pc-324-4.10.81.jpg\" alt=\"sts-1_l-1_week_11_sts1-0865-81pc-324-4.10.81\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"300\" height=\"250\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/sts-1_l-1_week_12_sts1-0878-81pc-320-4.10.81.jpg\" alt=\"sts-1_l-1_week_12_sts1-0878-81pc-320-4.10.81\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"171\" height=\"250\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/sts-1_l-1_week_13_sts1-0887-81pc-327-4.10.81.jpg\" alt=\"sts-1_l-1_week_13_sts1-0887-81pc-327-4.10.81\"><br><em>Left: STS-1 astronauts John W. Young, left, and Robert L. Crippen enjoying the traditional prelaunch breakfast on the morning of April 10, 1981, the first launch attempt. Middle: Crippen, left, and Young donning their pressure suits prior to the first launch attempt. Right: Young, front, and Crippen leaving the Operations and Checkout Building for the ride to the launch pad for the first launch attempt.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Young and Crippen arrived at the pad about two and a half hours before the scheduled liftoff, took the elevator to the crew access arm level and entered the White Room, where technicians assisted them into Columbia. Support astronaut Shriver, inside the vehicle to ensure all the control switches were in the correct settings, helped Young and Crippen strap into their seats in the cockpit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"144\" height=\"230\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/sts-1_l-1_week_14_sts1-0857-81pc-306-4.9.81.jpg\" alt=\"sts-1_l-1_week_14_sts1-0857-81pc-306-4.9.81\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"302\" height=\"230\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/sts-1_l-1_week_15_sts1-0897-s81-30062-4.10.81.jpg\" alt=\"sts-1_l-1_week_15_sts1-0897-s81-30062-4.10.81\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"327\" height=\"230\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/sts-1_l-1_week_16_hutchinson_stone_presser_on_launch_scrub_apr_10_1981.jpg\" alt=\"sts-1_l-1_week_16_hutchinson_stone_presser_on_launch_scrub_apr_10_1981\"><br><em>Left: Space shuttle Columbia on Launch Pad 39A awaiting its crew for the first launch attempt on April 10, 1981. Middle: In the Mission Control Center at NASA\u2019s Johnson Space Center in Houston, capsule communicators <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/historycollection.jsc.nasa.gov\/JSCHistoryPortal\/history\/oral_histories\/HartTJ\/harttj.htm\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Terry J. Hart<\/em><\/a><em>, left, and <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/historycollection.jsc.nasa.gov\/JSCHistoryPortal\/history\/oral_histories\/HutchinsonNB\/hutchinsonnb.htm\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Daniel C. Brandenstein<\/em><\/a><em> react to the decision to scrub the launch attempt at T minus 9 minutes. Right: Flight Director Neil B. Hutchinson, left, and data processing system officer Brock R. \u201cRandy\u201d Stone discuss the launch scrub decision with reporters.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When the countdown resumed after the planned hold at the T-minus 20-minute mark, controllers switched Columbia\u2019s computers to launch mode. Data Processing System (DPS) Officer <a href=\"https:\/\/historycollection.jsc.nasa.gov\/JSCHistoryPortal\/history\/oral_histories\/StoneBR\/stonebr.htm\" rel=\"noopener\">Brock R. \u201cRandy\u201d Stone<\/a> noticed that the four primary computers transitioned properly, as did the fifth backup computer, but the backup computer couldn\u2019t communicate with two of the primary units. Columbia could not launch in that configuration. At first thinking the problem lay with the backup computer, engineers recycled all five units to their previous mode, and all the computers communicated well. But Stone didn\u2019t understand what caused the problem and therefore couldn\u2019t rule out it recurring during the flight. He informed ascent Flight Director <a href=\"https:\/\/historycollection.jsc.nasa.gov\/JSCHistoryPortal\/history\/oral_histories\/HutchinsonNB\/hutchinsonnb.htm\" rel=\"noopener\">Neil B. Hutchinson<\/a> that DPC was no-go for launch, even if the computers worked well when they transitioned back to flight mode. And in fact, during the second transition to the flight mode, the computers once again did not communicate properly. The countdown clock held at the T-minus 9-minute mark as engineers worked to resolve the problem, but without an immediate solution, Hutchinson called for a scrub, and KSC Launch Director George F. Page halted the countdown a little more than three hours after the original liftoff time. After nearly six hours in the cockpit, a disappointed Young and Crippen climbed out of Columbia and returned to the O&C Building. It took engineers one day to determine that the primary computers had a 40-millisecond timing problem \u2013easily fixed by updating the software. Young and Crippen spent the next day practicing more landings with the STA and prepared for the second launch attempt on April 12.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"302\" height=\"230\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/sts-1_l-1_week_18_young_crippen_return_to_crew_quarters_after_scrub_apr_10_1981_75e_ksc-81pc-330.jpg\" alt=\"sts-1_l-1_week_18_young_crippen_return_to_crew_quarters_after_scrub_apr_10_1981\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"182\" height=\"230\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/sts-1_l-1_week_17_sts1-0902-noid-4.11.81.jpg\" alt=\"sts-1_l-1_week_17_sts1-0902-noid-4.11.81\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"291\" height=\"230\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/sts-1_l-1_week_19_young_w_sta_after_practice_runs_apr_11_1981_75f_ksc-81pc-340.jpg\" alt=\"sts-1_l-1_week_19_young_w_sta_after_practice_runs_apr_11_1981\"><br><em>Left: Suit technician Jim Schlosser greets STS-1 astronauts John W. Young, left, and Robert L. Crippen as they exit the astronaut van upon their return to the Operations and Checkout Building following the April 10, 1981 launch scrub. Middle: Young, left, and Crippen pose in front of the Shuttle Training Aircraft (STA) the day after the launch scrub. Right: Young leaving the STA, already thinking about the next day\u2019s second launch attempt.<\/em><\/p>\n\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%20The%20Countdown%20Begins%20for%20STS-1%3B%20First%20Launch%20Attempt%20Scrubbed&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nasa.gov%2Fhistory%2F40-years-ago-the-countdown-begins-for-sts-1-first-launch-attempt-scrubbed%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-the-countdown-begins-for-sts-1-first-launch-attempt-scrubbed%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-the-countdown-begins-for-sts-1-first-launch-attempt-scrubbed%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\">Apr 09, 2024<\/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\/former-astronaut-john-w-young\/\">John W. Young<\/a><\/li><li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/people\/robert-l-crippen\/\">Robert L. Crippen<\/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-1\/\">STS-1<\/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\/flag-day-2024-one-small-flags-incredible-journey\/\" 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=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/flag-day-2024-11-us-flag-after-demo-2-mission-arrival-1.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\/2024\/06\/flag-day-2024-11-us-flag-after-demo-2-mission-arrival-1.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/flag-day-2024-11-us-flag-after-demo-2-mission-arrival-1.jpg?resize=300,225 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/flag-day-2024-11-us-flag-after-demo-2-mission-arrival-1.jpg?resize=768,576 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/flag-day-2024-11-us-flag-after-demo-2-mission-arrival-1.jpg?resize=400,300 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/flag-day-2024-11-us-flag-after-demo-2-mission-arrival-1.jpg?resize=600,450 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/flag-day-2024-11-us-flag-after-demo-2-mission-arrival-1.jpg?resize=900,675 900w\" 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\">7 min read<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-1\"><h3 class=\"related-article-title\">Flag Day 2024 \u2013 One Small Flag\u2019s Incredible Journey<\/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 days 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\/55-years-ago-manned-orbiting-laboratory-cancellation\/\" 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=\"212\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/mol-cancellation-4-mol-group-1-astronauts.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\/2024\/06\/mol-cancellation-4-mol-group-1-astronauts.jpg 424w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/mol-cancellation-4-mol-group-1-astronauts.jpg?resize=300,212 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/mol-cancellation-4-mol-group-1-astronauts.jpg?resize=400,283 400w\" 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\">10 min read<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-1\"><h3 class=\"related-article-title\">55 Years Ago: Manned Orbiting Laboratory Cancellation<\/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 days 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\/55-years-ago-star-trek-final-episode-airs-relationship-with-nasa-endures\/\" 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=\"217\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/star-trek-final-episode-13-armstrong-at-doohan-farewell-anne-cusack-la-times-2004.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\/2024\/05\/star-trek-final-episode-13-armstrong-at-doohan-farewell-anne-cusack-la-times-2004.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/star-trek-final-episode-13-armstrong-at-doohan-farewell-anne-cusack-la-times-2004.jpg?resize=300,217 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/star-trek-final-episode-13-armstrong-at-doohan-farewell-anne-cusack-la-times-2004.jpg?resize=768,555 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/star-trek-final-episode-13-armstrong-at-doohan-farewell-anne-cusack-la-times-2004.jpg?resize=400,289 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/star-trek-final-episode-13-armstrong-at-doohan-farewell-anne-cusack-la-times-2004.jpg?resize=600,434 600w\" 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\">15 min read<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-1\"><h3 class=\"related-article-title\">55 Years Ago: Star Trek Final Episode Airs, Relationship with NASA Endures<\/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\t2 weeks 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>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The countdown for the first launch of the space shuttle program began on April 5, 1981, targeting liftoff five days later. Following their arrival at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center (KSC) on April 8, the STS-1 crew of Commander John W. Young and Pilot Robert L. Crippen practiced landings and reviewed their mission timelines. Mission managers [...]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":74,"featured_media":528167,"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":[],"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":[2671,3752,3505,2725,3099],"news-tags":[],"internal-terms":[12664,11995],"coauthors":[8636],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"40 Years Ago: The Countdown Begins for STS-1; First Launch Attempt Scrubbed","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/40-years-ago-the-countdown-begins-for-sts-1-first-launch-attempt-scrubbed\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/40-years-ago-the-countdown-begins-for-sts-1-first-launch-attempt-scrubbed\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/sts-1_l-1_week_17_sts1-0902-noid-4.11.81.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/sts-1_l-1_week_17_sts1-0902-noid-4.11.81.jpg"},"articleSection":"NASA History","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Kelli Mars"}],"creator":["Kelli Mars"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"NASA","logo":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/themes\/nasa\/assets\/images\/nasa-logo.svg"},"keywords":["Missions","Space Shuttle","STS-1","NASA History","John W. Young","Robert L. Crippen"],"dateCreated":"2021-04-05T21:37:00Z","datePublished":"2021-04-05T21:37:00Z","dateModified":"2024-04-09T16:55:06Z"},"rendered":"<meta name=\"parsely-title\" content=\"40 Years Ago: The Countdown Begins for STS-1; First Launch Attempt Scrubbed\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-link\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/40-years-ago-the-countdown-begins-for-sts-1-first-launch-attempt-scrubbed\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-type\" content=\"post\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-image-url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/sts-1_l-1_week_17_sts1-0902-noid-4.11.81.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-pub-date\" content=\"2021-04-05T21:37:00Z\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-section\" content=\"NASA History\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-tags\" content=\"Missions,Space Shuttle,STS-1,NASA History,John W. Young,Robert L. Crippen\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-author\" content=\"Kelli Mars\" \/>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/nasa.gov\/p.js"},"read_time":7,"time_ago":"3 years","featured_image":{"id":528167,"file":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/sts-1_l-1_week_17_sts1-0902-noid-4.11.81.jpg","title":"sts-1_l-1_week_17_sts1-0902-noid-4.11.81","alt":"sts-1_l-1_week_17_sts1-0902-noid-4.11.81","caption":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/168372"}],"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\/74"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=168372"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/168372\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":643055,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/168372\/revisions\/643055"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/528167"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=168372"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=168372"},{"taxonomy":"news-tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-tags?post=168372"},{"taxonomy":"internal-terms","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/internal-terms?post=168372"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=168372"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}