“My view of our planet was a glimpse of divinity.” – Edgar Mitchell

On April 12, 1981, the first space shuttle was launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida to orbit the earth for the first time.

The Space Shuttle Columbia was the first modern space shuttle of its kind; it orbited the earth 37 times before re-entering the planet two days later to land at the Edwards Air Force base in California.

April 12 is also the anniversary of the first human, the Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, in space.

Like the first moon landing by Americans on July 16, 1969, the first space shuttle launch was a testament to the brilliant imagination and unbelievable accomplishments of humankind.

Celebrate the first space shuttle launch with these inspirational quotes about space exploration from famous astronauts.