NASA Photo ID:  S81-30459, MSFC-8111969 Date taken: 04/12/81

The new era in space flight began on April 12, 1981. That is when the first Space Shuttle mission (STS-1) was launched. The Marshall Space Flight Center developed the propulsion system for the Space Shuttle. This photograph depicts the launch of the Space Shuttle Orbiter Columbia manned with two astronauts, John Young and Robert Crippen.

Source: http://mix.msfc.nasa.gov