First plasma was achieved in the Tokamak Fusion Test Reactor (TFTR) at 3:06 a.m., December 24, 1982. Contributing to the success of achieving first plasma were a number of new procedures, techniques and facilities. These included formal programs of Subsystem Testing and Integrated Systems Testing, a formal First Plasma Operational Readiness Review and a TFTR Operations/Information Center. Because of the magnitude and significance of the TFTR project, the innovations techniques and procedures which proved useful for first plasma will be continued as TFTR proceeds toward its goal of attaining scientific breakeven in fusion in 1986.