April 5-National Raisin and Spice Bar Day & Booker T. Washington’s Birthday
April 6-National Caramel Popcorn Day & Modern Olympics began
April 7-National Coffee Cake Day & World Health Day & Matches First for Sale in 1827
April 8-International Bird Day
April 9- First Public Library Opened
April 10- Golfer’s Day
April 11- National Cheese Fondue Day
April 12- National Licorice Day & First Space Shuttle Launched*
*On April 12, 1981 the very first space shuttle to orbit the Earth was launched from the Kennedy Space Center. Named the Columbia, the shuttle was flown by Commander John W. Young and Pilot Robert L. Crippen.
The shuttle was originally scheduled to launch on April 10 but was postponed due to timing skew in orbiter’s general purpose computer system.
The first journey lasted two days and was landed smoothly in an airplane style. The Columbia was launched again seven months later, becoming the first piloted reusable orbiter. The Columbia was followed by shuttles Challenger in 1982, Discovery in 1983 and Atlantis in 1985.