Explaining The Universe on Instagram: "The Columbia spacecraft was NASA’s first space shuttle, officially known as STS-1 on its maiden flight in 1981. Its landings were unique because, unlike traditional rockets, the shuttle returned to Earth gliding like an unpowered aircraft. After re-entering the atmosphere at hypersonic speeds, Columbia used its heat-resistant tiles to withstand the intense frictional heat, then gradually slowed down and approached a runway in a steep, controlled descent. Pi