![]() ![]() Among the criticisms, the report stated that NASA had become complacent to the loss of foam from the external tank, since none had led to significant issues other than postflight maintenance. ![]() The CAIB report also criticized NASA’s organizational and safety culture, finding similar faults that led to the 1986 Challenger accident. When the vehicle began reentry this damaged section of the wing was subjected to extreme entry heating over a long period of time, causing the destruction of the wing and then the breakup and crash of Columbia. While on orbit, no one on the Shuttle and on the ground had any idea about the damage. The Columbia Accident Investigation Board found out that the foam from the external tank’s left bipod ramp area impacted Columbia in the vicinity of the lower left wing reinforced carbon-carbon panels 5-9. … The Columbia is lost there are no survivors.” By that time, authorities in Texas and Louisiana had begun the arduous task of recovering the remains of the astronauts and the debris from Columbia, a process that took more than three months and resulted in the recovery of about 38% of Columbia by weight. Bush addressed a shocked nation, “My fellow Americans, this day has brought terrible news, and great sadness to our country. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)įive hours after the tragedy, President George W. The ceremony highlighted the crew of Space Shuttle Columbia STS-107 for the 20th anniversary of the mission disaster that killed seven astronauts on Feb. Bob Cabana, Associate Administrator of NASA, delivers remarks during NASA’s Day of Remembrance ceremony, hosted by the Astronauts Memorial Foundation at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, Thursday, January 26, 2023. However, engineers on the ground continued to assess the impact of the foam strike, requesting high-resolution imaging of the affected area to complete a more thorough analysis, but ultimately managers turned down the request.Īnd then, fifteen minutes after entry interface, flying over Texas at an altitude of 207,000 feet and 16 minutes from landing at KSC, Mission Control lost contact with Columbia and her crew. 23, the Flight Director notified Husband and McCool of the foam strike, but assured them that because the phenomenon had occurred on previous missions, it caused no concern for damage to the vehicle or for reentry. During routine analysis of launch films, however, engineers noted that at about 82 seconds into the flight, a piece of foam insulation released from the Shuttle’s External Tank (ET) appeared to strike Columbia’s left wing. ![]() The launch appeared to go well and after eight and a half minutes, Columbia reached its planned orbit to begin the 16-day microgravity research mission. Space shuttle Columbia began its 28th mission with a liftoff from KSC’s Launch Pad 39A at 10:39 am EST on Jan. and international experiments aboard a Spacehab Double Research Module in Columbia’s payload bay. During the mission, the seven-member crew worked on 80 U.S. This was the first shuttle mission dedicated to microgravity research in nearly five years, while the others were planned to continue the construction of the International Space Station. STS-107 was the first Shuttle mission of the year, out of six planned. The Mission Control is isolated, no transmissions of any kind in or out, while flight controllers secured all their information, notes and data gathered from the spacecraft. ![]() The flight director declares a contingency: “Lock the doors”, ordering the controllers to start the Flight Control Operations Handbook contingency plan procedure. Clark, and Payload Specialist Ilan Ramon, lost their lives. “Willie” McCool, Payload Commander Michael P. The seven astronauts on the Columbia, Commander Rick D. In the following seconds, flight controllers begin reporting a string of problems.Īt 9:03, the Capsule Commander (CAPCOM) attempts to communicate with the orbiter: “Columbia, Houston, comm check.” With the radio calls every 30 seconds going unanswered, everyone begins to realize something might be very wrong, as no radio contact and radar tracking could be established.Īt 9:12 the control room gets the news nobody wanted to her that day, the vehicle broke up and multiple contrails were seen along Columbia’s flight path. “Roger, buh” was his abruptly cutoff answer, the last radio transmission from the crew as the Shuttle was approaching Dallas, Texas. At 8:59, MMACS reports the loss of tire pressure readings on the left landing gear, which is relayed to the Space Shuttle commander. ![]()
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