Looking back at Columbia shuttle shuttle disaster process

Space shuttle Columbia Columbia (NASA number: OV-102) is the first ship in NASA's space shuttle fleet capable of flying to space. Its first flight, STS-1, lasted from April 12 to April 14, 1981.

The Columbia spacecraft disaster

On February 1, 2003, the Columbia ship crashed on its way back to Earth, shattered during landing, causing the entire crew to die.

During the last flight, the ship carried the first Israeli astronaut, Ilan Ramon, and the first female astronaut born in India, Kalpana Chawla.

Other crew members on the final flight include Rick Husband (commander), Willie McCool (pilot), Michael P. Anderson, Laurel B. Clark and David M. Brown.

Since the accident of the Columbia ship in 2003, NASA has successfully launched 11 space shuttles.