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Space Shuttle Launch Schedules
Space Shuttle Information
NASA Space Shuttles
- Space Shuttle Missions
- Space Shuttle Atlantis
- Space Shuttle Discovery
- Space Shuttle Columbia
- Space Shuttle Challenger Crash
- STS 121
Space Shuttle Columbia
The space shuttle Columbia was one of the most prolific of the space shuttles until it was destroyed in a disaster on it's 28th mission on February 1, 2003. This put a lock on space travel for a while until they had the Discovery shuttle perform a delivery to the International Space Station in July of 2005. The Columbia, up until that point, was probably one of the most famous of the space shuttles, except for the Challenger, which had its own disaster in January of 1986 that solidified its memory in the minds of everyone who watched it get destroyed.
History of the Columbia
The construction of the Columbia was started in 1975 and was finished several years later. During a nitrogen purge, 5 workers were asphyxiated, out of which 2 died. It performed the first flight of any shuttle on April 14 of 1981 when it orbited the Earth 36 times before landing again 2 days later on the 16th. It also performed the first operational mission with a crew of four people. The Columbia was unique of the five space shuttles. It was the only one that contained an all tile thermal protection system and had the USA on one wing and the American flag on the other wing. It was also 8000 pounds heavier than any of the newer shuttles. The Challenger was also a little heavier, but it was still 2200 pounds lighter than the Columbia.
The Columbia tragedy will forever be remembered in the minds of NASA and the country for its impact on the nation. It has been compared to the 9/11 tragedy and the Kennedy assasination in that many people remember where they were and what they were doing when they found out that the Columbia had burned up on reentry. In a decade filled with turmoil and tragedy, this will stick out as one of the most memorable.
History of the Columbia
The construction of the Columbia was started in 1975 and was finished several years later. During a nitrogen purge, 5 workers were asphyxiated, out of which 2 died. It performed the first flight of any shuttle on April 14 of 1981 when it orbited the Earth 36 times before landing again 2 days later on the 16th. It also performed the first operational mission with a crew of four people. The Columbia was unique of the five space shuttles. It was the only one that contained an all tile thermal protection system and had the USA on one wing and the American flag on the other wing. It was also 8000 pounds heavier than any of the newer shuttles. The Challenger was also a little heavier, but it was still 2200 pounds lighter than the Columbia.
The Columbia tragedy will forever be remembered in the minds of NASA and the country for its impact on the nation. It has been compared to the 9/11 tragedy and the Kennedy assasination in that many people remember where they were and what they were doing when they found out that the Columbia had burned up on reentry. In a decade filled with turmoil and tragedy, this will stick out as one of the most memorable.