STANSTED REMEMBERS SHUTTLE

2008-06-06

One shuttle flight will never be forgotten at Stansted airport.

That's the day the NASA Space Shuttle touched down at the UK airport back in 1983.

Now Stansted is holding a special exhibition to mark the 25th anniversary of the event.

More than half-a-million people gathered on June 5, 1983, to watch the Space Shuttle as it landed piggy back on the back of a specially modified Boeing 747.

The visit was part of a European tour that included stops in Germany, Italy and France.

To commemorate the landing a one-day exhibition will be held at Stansted this Thursday, June 5.

There will be film footage of the Shuttle landing, together with rare photos and memorabilia.

Retired staff who were at the airport 25 years ago will be returning.

Former head of public affairs and exhibition organiser Derek Winter said: "The Shuttle's visit was probably the most famous event in the history of the airport and I decided I couldn't just let the anniversary go by without doing something to mark the occasion.

"I'm really looking forward to meeting up with some of my old colleagues who worked with me back in 1983, and also talking to newer staff who perhaps were a bit young to remember this historic day."

The exhibition is at Enterprise House - named after the Shuttle - and runs from 11am to 7pm on Thursday, June 5

The day coincides with the 50th anniversary of NASA.