This week in Edwards history

Published July 3, 2018
By 412th Test Wing Public Affairs

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --

On July 4, 1982, Space Shuttle Columbia landed in view of President Ronald Reagan, First Lady Nancy Reagan and some 500,000 visitors and guests. The shuttle’s fourth orbital flight was its first landing on a concrete runway and marked the end of its formal flight test program.

Later that very same day, the nation’s second space shuttle, Challenger, departed Edwards for Florida atop its 747 carrier aircraft while President Reagan was addressing the crowd.

Challenger was the first of the orbiters to be configured for operational missions in its original design.

Shuttle Columbia landed in view of President Ronald Reagan, First Lady Nancy Reagan, and some 500,000 visitors and guests. The Shuttle’s fourth orbital flight was its first landing on a concrete runway and marked the end of its formal flight test program.
Later that very same day, the nation’s second Space Shuttle, Challenger, departed Edwards for Florida atop its 747 carrier aircraft while President Reagan was addressing the crowd.
Challenger was the first of the orbiters to be configured for operational missions in its original design. — America’s second space shuttle, Challenger, departed Edwards for Florida atop its 747 carrier July 4, 1982. (Edwards History Office file photo)