Shuttle Columbia takes off for high-wire act 20 years ago this hour (Feb 22 1996)


Video: 'STS-75 launch & landing (2-22-96)'

(Thursday, February 22, 1996, 3:18 p.m. EST/20:18:00 UTC) — The space shuttle Columbia blasted into orbit today on a mission to unreel a satellite on the end of a 12.8-mile tether. (The cord broke just before being extended to its full length.)