What Happened To Space Shuttle Columbia

Investigators later found that a piece of shuttle fuel tank foam insulation.

What happened to space shuttle columbia. Nasa s space shuttle columbia was destroyed during re entry on feb. The space shuttle columbia was the first space rated orbiter in nasa s space shuttle fleet. The accident killed all seven astronauts aboard the craft. Columbia breaking up 2003 streaks of burning debris from the u s.

Serving for over 22 years it completed 27 missions before disintegrating during re entry near the end of its 28th mission sts 107 on february 1 2003 resulting in the deaths of all seven crew members. Against all odds the astronauts aboard the space shuttle columbia tried to gain control of their shattered and tumbling ship in the seconds before they lost consciousness and died. The disaster was the second fatal accident in the space shuttle program after the 1986 breakup of challenger soon after liftoff. Space shuttle orbiter columbia as it broke up over texas on february 1 2003.

The accident was caused by a hole in the shuttle s left wing from a piece of foam insulation that smashed into it at launch. The breach in the wing brought it down upon its return to earth. Tragic loss of columbia columbia broke apart during reentry while returning to earth after a 16 day science mission. Columbia disintegrated as it returned to earth at the end of its space mission.