<Tr> <Th> Date </Th> <Th> Milestone </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> July 26, 1972 </Td> <Td> Contract Awarded to North American Rockwell </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> March 25, 1975 </Td> <Td> Start long lead fabrication aft fuselage </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> November 17, 1975 </Td> <Td> Start long - lead fabrication of crew module </Td> </Tr>

1981 america's first space shuttle columbia returns to earth