Which rocket carried the first crewed mission of the Space Shuttle program?

Space Shuttle Columbia carried the first crewed mission of the Space Shuttle program.

Columbia launched on April 12, 1981, for STS-1, the first orbital flight of NASA’s Space Shuttle system. Astronauts John Young and Robert Crippen spent just over two days testing the orbiter, its launch configuration, and its systems before landing at Edwards Air Force Base.

STS-1 was unusual because it was the first crewed orbital spacecraft test flight with no previous uncrewed orbital mission of the same vehicle. Columbia’s successful launch and landing demonstrated that the reusable orbiter could operate with its solid rocket boosters and external tank.

Columbia flew 28 missions before being lost during re-entry on STS-107 in 2003. Discovery, Atlantis, and Endeavour were different orbiters introduced later in the program.