Vintage Kodak Photo Space Shuttle Columbia STS-1 Launch NASA Cape Canaveral 1981
$ 39.58
Description
You are bidding on: Vintage Kodak Photo Space Shuttle Columbia STS-1 Launch NASA Cape Canaveral 1981 Description Condition: In vintage preowned condition. The back has yellow tape marks in each corner. PLEASE READ: You are buying the picture only! The retirement letter is for reference purposes only! The retirement letter is not included! This is a vintage photo of Space Shuttle Columbia launching mission STS-1. The photo paper is Kodak. In light grey text on the back says, "This Paper Manufactured By Kodak". The photo is an 8" x 10". STS-1 (Space Transportation System-1) was the first orbital spaceflight of NASA's Space Shuttle program. The first orbiter, Columbia, launched on April 12, 1981 and returned on April 14, 1981, 54.5 hours later, having orbited the Earth 36 times. Columbia carried a crew of two – mission commander John W. Young and pilot Robert L. Crippen. It was the first American crewed space flight since the Apollo–Soyuz Test Project (ASTP) in 1975. STS-1 was also the maiden test flight of a new American spacecraft to carry a crew, though it was preceded by atmospheric testing (ALT) of the orbiter and ground testing of the Space Shuttle system. This came from a prominent employee that helped with the development for Kennedy Space Center. James “Jim” K. Davidson was born in 1927 in Vicksburg, MS. He attended St. Aloysius Boys School where he graduated in 1945. He went on to attend Mississippi State University and graduated with an Engineering Degree in 1949. He briefly worked for the Army Corps of Engineers in Hattiesburg, MS, where he was one of five young men personally recruited by Dr. Werner Von Braun for his Missile Ballistics Program at the Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, AL. After launching Explorer I from Cape Canaveral in 1958, Mr. Davidson was then asked to help with the development of what would eventually become John F. Kennedy Space Center in Florida. In the 1960's, Mr. Davidson began his career at John F. Kennedy Space Center where his achievements soared far beyond his greatest dreams. As a pioneer of both unmanned and manned space flight, he was a member of the select "100 Missile Club" and the original Redstone team, as well as programming missions for Alan Sheppard and Virgil "Gus" Grissom. After countless launches during the Redstone, Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, Skylab, and the Space Shuttle programs, Mr. Davidson retired from NASA with 32 years of service in 1982. His retirement letter that is pictured helps show proof of provenance. The letter IS NOT included. It the second paragraph, Richard “Dick” Smith write, “Your involvement in the space program dates back to the early Redstone launches and marks you as a true space pioneer. Your excellent work with Saturn/Apollo flight and ground support electrical systems contributed significantly to the success of those programs and the historic lunar landing series”. Also included are a few articles that can be found on google to help show the provenance once again. ******************************************************************************************************** PLEASE READ: I buy mostly estates, close outs, shelf pulls, and auction items. As the history of the item is not always known. I will describe all of my items listed to the best of my ability, if there are any flaws to the item it will be noted in the listing and photos of the flaw shown. At times I may miss a flaw, as I am only human. Please contact me and I will make it right and make sure that you are happy with you interaction and purchase from Big Man Tim. See photos for details and ask all questions before purchasing "FREE SHIPPING" Thank you for shopping in my store. Check out the other items in my Ebay Store! HAPPY BIDDING 061322/TM warehouse
