Space Shuttle Columbia disaster

Space Shuttle Columbia disaster

Final launch of Columbia - the part that broke off the fuel tank can be seen as a light triangle by the nose of the Shuttle
Date	February 1, 2003; 22 years ago (2003-02-01)
Time	08:59 EST (13:59 UTC)
Location	Over Texas and Louisiana
Cause	Wing damage from debris
Outcome	Shuttles grounded for 29 months
Deaths	Commander Rick D. Husband Pilot William C. McCool Payload commander Michael P. Anderson Mission specialist Kalpana Chawla Mission specialist David M. Brown Mission specialist Laurel Clark Mission specialist Ilan Ramon
Inquiries	Columbia Investigation Board

The Space Shuttle Columbia disaster occurred when Space Shuttle Columbia broke up when it was reentering the atmosphere on February 1, 2003. The cause of the disaster was that a piece of foam broke from the external fuel tank. This made a hole in the shuttle's wing. During its entry, hot gases entered the wing, causing it to break up. All of the people on board died when it broke up.

Parts of Columbia were found across the state of Texas. The cockpit window is now inside the Space Shuttle Atlantis Pavilion at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.