New York Post – April 13, 1981 – STS‑1 Space Shuttle Columbia Launch, Young & Crippen, Joe Louis Dead (SOLD)

Description

Status: Previously sold. This original newspaper is no longer available.

This listing documents an original New York Post newspaper from Monday,
April 13, 1981. The front page and interior coverage focus on the launch of
STS‑1, the first flight and first crewed mission of NASA’s Space Shuttle
program, flown by astronauts John Young and Robert Crippen aboard Columbia.

The issue includes prominent coverage of the launch, including a centerfold
photograph of liftoff.

Front‑page and interior headlines include:

• “‘CLIFFHANGER IN SPACE’ — Lifesaving tiles ripped from the rocketship”
• “Danger on the Spaceship — An otherwise ideal blastoff is marred by a handful of peeling tiles”
• “Columbia’s tile overcoat was always a headache”
• “Joe Louis dead”
• “Joe Louis loses final fight, dies of heart attack”
• “London riots rage on; blacks battle 1000 bobbies”

The reporting documents concerns about heat‑shield tiles being lost during launch,
a problem that drew attention despite an otherwise successful liftoff and orbit
insertion.

Publication details:
New York Post, Monday edition.
Volume 180, Number 126.
Complete 72‑page issue.

Additional contents include:

• Space Shuttle Program — Extensive reporting on the historic first
  Space Shuttle mission and its technical challenges.
• Centerfold — Large photograph showing Columbia lifting off
  during the STS‑1 launch.
• Sports History — Coverage marking the death of heavyweight boxing
  legend Joe Louis.
• International Unrest — Reporting on riots in London.

Movie advertisements include:

• Lion of the Desert
• Nighthawks starring Sylvester Stallone
• Ordinary People with Donald Sutherland and Mary Tyler Moore
• Excalibur
• The Postman Always Rings Twice
• and additional early‑1981 releases

This issue captures the New York Post’s characteristically dramatic response to the
beginning of the Space Shuttle era, paired with major sports and international news.

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Condition at time of sale:
Used condition for a newspaper from the early 1980s. Wear, small tears, and creasing
were present, consistent with age and handling. All 72 pages were included.
Please examine listing photos for exact condition details.

Learn more about the publication:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_Post

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