Space Shuttle Columbia Commemorative

Certificate and Flag

From Museum Collections

Razorback spirit was something I always saw as synonymous with sports. Razorback flags, cups, hats, clothing, koozies, statues, and more, all meant to show our Razorback pride. These items are often put on display to show the pride we have. However, there are some artifacts that students rarely see or hear about. One such artifact is this certificate from NASA, commemorating the first flight of the Space Shuttle Columbia. The Columbia was the first orbiter of the American Space Shuttle program, and launched on mission STS-1 on April 12, 1981. Following this major national event, the astronauts John Young and Robert Crippen, members of the crew of “Columbia,” presented the University of Arkansas with a certificate to commemorate the historical event. The artifact itself is the framed certificate with a mission patch and American flag. The Certificate has a gold foil seal of NASA. The patch has two space shuttles and features “Columbia,” “Young,” and “Crippen.”

This commemoration was their way of expressing that universities, like the University of Arkansas, are the foundation upon which these amazing achievements can be accomplished. I feel the same way when viewing college, as the foundations built within higher education are what springboards intelligent men and women into such positions as those inhabited by the crew of the Columbia itself. This certificate is more than any football or flag, as it represents the Razorbacks spirit of innovation, perseverance, and adaptability, all of which are the traits that truly bring me pride in being a Razorback.

The certificate was moved from UA Special Collections in 1989 to the UA Museum, where it remains today.  

Contributor: Curtis Worley is a senior at the University of Arkansas, majoring in Cultural Anthropology and minoring in History. Originally from Berryville, AR, Curtis is involved with the Arkansas Public History Group, and he hopes to pursue a graduate degree in Military History.