---
author: Eric Wagoner
date: '2000-06-23T04:18:47'
draft: false
title: The first space shuttle launch
---

The first space shuttle launch took place on April 12, 1981, and the flight was a huge success. Remember? Well, _"the Bolsheviks who now control NASA bent over backwards to paint the image of an abnormally perfect shuttle flight. Meanwhile the actual Shuttle mission, which was carried out in secret, did not go according to plan._ " This quote comes from my absolute favorite wacked-out conspiracy rambling of all time: the [Dr. Beter AUDIO LETTER #64](http://kalex.engin.umich.edu/mcelwaine/beter/sts-1-disaster). I first read this back in college (pre-internet), courtesy of usenet kook [Robert E. McElwaine](http://kalex.engin.umich.edu/mcelwaine/) ("_UN-altered REPRODUCTION and DISSEMINATION of this IMPORTANT Information is ENCOURAGED..._ "). If there's one piece of conspiracy madness you read this weekend, read Dr. Beter.