Model Aircrafts and Ships

Space Shuttle Columbia Takes OFF: Mission STS-107

The Final mission for the Space Shuttle Columbia carried a crew of seven astronauts:

Rick Husband: Commander

William C. McCool: Pilot

David M. Brown: Mission Specialist

Kalpana Chawla: Flight Engineer

Michael P. Anderson: Payload Commander

Laurel B. Clark: Mission Specialist

Ilan Ramon: Payload Specialist

The STS-107 was a multi-disciplinary microgravity and Earth science research mission with a multitude of international scientific investigations conducted continuously during 16 days in orbit.

On the 1^st of February 2003, morning, the shuttle re-entered the atmosphere after a 16 day orbit (scientific mission). Unfortunately, Space Shuttle Columbia disaster occurred that resulted with the loss of all seven crew minutes before concluding its 28^th mission.

According to investigations, the loss of the Columbia was caused by a piece of foam known as the Left Bipod Foam Ramp that broke off during launch and damaged the thermal protection system components on the left wing of the Shuttle orbiter and caused extensive heat build up.