When did the space shuttle first fly?

The space shuttle first flew in 1981, specifically on April 12th, when the shuttle Columbia was launched on the STS-1 mission. This marked a significant milestone in space exploration, as it was the first operational flight of NASA's Space Shuttle program, which played a crucial role in enabling reusable spacecraft that could transport astronauts and cargo to and from low Earth orbit.

The Space Shuttle program continued for over three decades, allowing numerous scientific missions, satellite deployments, and the construction of the International Space Station. Other dates listed do not correspond to any space shuttle flight, reflecting earlier or later periods in space exploration history, but the inaugural flight occurring in 1981 is pivotal in the evolution of spaceflight technology.