Portal:Spaceflight/Selected article/Week 6 2007

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The Space Shuttle Columbia disaster was the destruction of the Space Shuttle Columbia over Texas on February 1, 2003 during reentry into the Earth's atmosphere on its 28th mission, STS-107. All seven members of the crew were killed.

The loss of the Columbia was caused by damage sustained during launch when foam insulation the size of a small briefcase, broke off the main propellant tank under the aerodynamic forces of launch. The debris struck the leading edge of the orbiter's left wing on the number 8 reinforced carbon carbon (RCC) tile, damaging the shuttle's thermal protection system (TPS). While the shuttle was still in orbit, some concerned engineers suspected damage, but NASA managers limited the investigation on the grounds that little could be done even if problems were found. (more...)