Nasa shuttle: 30 years since first flight

On 12 April 1981, the Columbia space shuttle launched - it was the vehicle's first mission, and the start of 30 years as Nasa's workhorse.

A two-day delay meant the mission launched on the 20th anniversary of the first manned space flight, by Yuri Gagarin.

Nasa veteran John Young was accompanied by pilot Bob Crippen on the mission, which ended 54 hours later with a safe landing at Edwards Air Force Base, California.