“It is easy to overlook the dangers of travel by rocket”
The break-up of the Space Shuttle Columbia claimed the lives of the seven astronauts on board in 2003
What happened?
About 82 seconds after launch, a large piece of foam broke off from the external tank, damaging the thermal protection system of the orbiter's left wing. Upon re-entry the damaged wing slowly overheated and came apart, causing the shuttle to disintegrate.
What mission were they on?
STS-107, Columbia’s 28th mission, orbited for 15 days, 22 hours, 20 minutes and 32 seconds conducting a range of experiments before re-entry. Just 17 years after the Challenger disaster, NAsA suffered its second fatal accident of its space shuttle program. this one concerned Columbia, the first space-rated orbiter in the fleet. During the launch of its 28th mission, sts-107, on 16 January 2003, it suffered serious damage to its left wing and unfortunately this would later prove fatal.
Video evidence later revealed that a large piece of insulating foam had detached from the shuttle's external tank and had struck the orbiter's left wing. this punched a hole into the reinforced carboncarbon panels along the left wing's leading edge, damaging the thermal protection of the orbiter.
Almost 16 days later, on 1 february 2003, the crew began their journey back to Earth after what had been a successful science mission. But their fate had already been sealed. During re-entry the damaged wing allowed superheated atmospheric gases to penetrate and destroy its internal structure, causing the spacecraft to destabilise and break apart.
270 seonds after re-entry, Columbia's wing was showing signs of strain but at mission control re-entry appeared normal. But Columbia was exposed to temperatures of more than 1,540 degrees Celsius (2,800 degrees fahrenheit). 555 seconds after entering the atmosphere pieces of the orbiter were being shed, and a series of bright flashes followed. When contact was made with commander rick Husband only one word – “roger” – was clear. Just 16 minutes from its scheduled landing at the Kennedy space Center, Columbia disintegrated around 61 kilometres (38 miles) above texas, and sadly all on board were lost.
"the breakup of the crew module and the crew's subsequent exposure to hypersonic entry conditions was not survivable by any currently existing capability,” a subsequent report said.
“the ascent and entry suit had no performance requirements for occupant protection from thermal events.” some 30 recommendations were made for improving equipment and training, including seat restraints and more suitable helmets.
Along with Husband, those who were lost were pilot William McCool, payload commander Michael Anderson, payload specialist Ilan ramon (Israel's first astronaut), and mission specialists Kalpana Chawla, David Brown and Laurel Clark. for days debris rained down on parts of texas.
“In an age when space flight has come to seem almost routine, it is easy to overlook the dangers of travel by rocket, and the difficulties of navigating the fierce outer atmosphere of the Earth,” said President George W. Bush on the day of the disaster. “these astronauts knew the dangers, and they faced them willingly, knowing they had a high and noble purpose in life. the cause [for] which they died will continue. Mankind is led into the darkness beyond our world by the inspiration of discovery and the longing to understand. our journey into space will go on.”
“This is indeed a tragic day for the NASA family, for the families of the astronauts who flew on STS-107, and likewise is tragic for the nation” NASA administrator Sean O'Keefe