This week in Edwards history

Published July 4, 2017
By 412th Test Wing Public Affairs

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- On July 4, 1982, the Space Shuttle Orbiter Columbia landed on the main runway in front of President Ronald and Mrs. Nancy Reagan and some 500,000 visitors and guests. After the shuttle’s fourth orbital flight was its first landing on a concrete runway and marked the end of its formal flight test program. The space vehicle was flown by Navy Capt. Thomas K. Mattingly II (U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School Class 65B) and Col. Henry W. Hartsfield (TPS Class 64C). On this flight (STS-4), the Columbia established a U.S. record altitude for spacecraft in a circular orbit (321.192 km - 199.589 mi).