Space Shuttle Columbia
AgencyNASA
Year2003
TypeDestroyed during reentry
RocketSpace Shuttle
CountryUSA
About the Mission
A piece of foam struck the wing during launch, creating a hole. During reentry on February 1, 2003, hot gases entered the wing. All 7 crew perished over Texas. Investigation revealed a culture of normalized deviance at NASA. Led to the decision to retire the shuttle program.
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