What was the name of NASA’s first reusable spacecraft to reach orbit and return safely?

Space Shuttle Columbia was NASA’s first reusable spacecraft to reach orbit and return safely.

Columbia launched on April 12, 1981, during STS-1, carrying astronauts John Young and Robert Crippen. It became the first winged, crewed spacecraft to launch vertically, operate in orbit, and land as a glider.

The orbiter returned to Edwards Air Force Base on April 14 after 36 orbits and a mission lasting just over two days. STS-1 was a test flight, so Columbia carried no operational satellite payload and was flown with a deliberately cautious test program.

Columbia was named after the command module of Apollo 11 and an earlier American exploration ship. It later flew 28 missions before being lost during reentry on STS-107 in 2003.