U.S. 50-Star Flag Flown Aboard Space Shuttle "Columbia".
This small cotton 50-star flag was carried into space on the second space shuttle mission STS-2. Launched 12 November 1982 it was also the second trip into space for the shuttle "Columbia". The significance of this mission was that it was the first time a reusable manned spacecraft was returned to space, proving the reliability, economy and practicality of the space shuttle concept.

Additionally this was the last all-rookie crew for a space shuttle mission as henceforth all missions had to be commanded by an astronaut who had already been in space.

Sadly, on 1 February 2003, after 28 successful missions, "Columbia" was destroyed on reentry and all seven astronauts were killed.

Provenance: Acquired in 2008 at an Internet auction.

ZFC Noteworthy Flag
Item is Framed

Sources:


STS-2, Wikipedia, 20 May 2012, from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/STS-2

Space Shuttle Columbia, Wikipedia, 20 May 2012, from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbia_shuttle

Image Credits:
Zaricor Flag Collection