Space Shuttle Columbia Tragedy

The Loss of The Columbia Space Shuttle

The Final Hours of STS-107

The Memorials

National Memorial
"Our Nation Shares Your Sorrow and Your Pride." ~ President Bush

Memorial At The Bottom Of The World
McMurdo Station, Antarctica Mourns With Columbia Families

Patti LaBelle Sings "Way Up There" at Columbia Memorial
Song Commissioned for Centennial of Flight Used to Memorialize Columbia Crew

Crew Biographies

Read more about these heroes from the Space Shuttle Columbia STS-107.

Rick Husband - Commander
Born July 12, 1957, in Amarillo, Texas. Married with two children. He enjoyed singing, water and snow skiing, cycling, and spending time with his family.

Willie McCool - Pilot
Born September 23, 1961 in San Diego, California. Married. He enjoyed running, mountain biking, back country hiking/camping, swimming, playing guitar, chess.

Kalpana Chawla - Mission Specialist
Born in Karnal, India. Kalpana Chawla enjoyed flying, hiking, back-packing, and reading. She held Certificated Flight Instructor's license with airplane and glider ratings, Commercial Pilot's licenses for single- and multi-engine land and seaplanes, and Gliders, and instrument rating for airplanes. She enjoyed flying aerobatics and tail-wheel airplanes.

Laurel Clark - Mission Specialist
Born in Iowa, but considered Racine, Wisconsin, to be her hometown. Married with one child. She enjoyed scuba diving, hiking, camping, biking, parachuting, flying, traveling. Her parents reside in New Mexico.

Mike Anderson - Mission Specialist
Born December 25, 1959, in Plattsburgh, New York. Considered Spokane, Washington, to be his hometown. Married. He enjoyed photography, chess, computers, and tennis.

David Brown - Mission Specialist
Born April 16, 1956 in Arlington, Virginia. Single. Enjoyed flying and bicycle touring. Was a four year collegiate varsity gymnast. While in college he performed in the Circus Kingdom as an acrobat, 7 foot unicyclist and stilt walker. His parents, Paul and Dorothy Brown, reside in Washington, Virginia.

Ilan Ramon - Payload Specialist
Born June 20,1954 in Tel Aviv, Israel. Married to Rona. They have four children. He enjoyed snow skiing, squash. His parents reside in Beer Sheva, Israel.

Statements

NASA Statement On Loss Of Communications With Columbia

Statement By NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe

Statement From The Families Of Space Shuttle Columbia

Miscellaneous

The Columbia Tragedy
One Journalist's Experience

Columbia Cabin Video
NASA Released Video Taken By Crew During Reentry

Smoking Gun
Video of Foam Impact Test

Astronaut/Cosmonaut Memorial

The Investigation

CAIB Report
The report concludes that while NASA's present Space Shuttle is not inherently unsafe, a number of mechanical fixes are required to make the space Shuttle safer in the short term.

Columbia Accident Investigation Board To Release Final Report August 26
The 250-page report is the culmination of nearly seven months of investigation by the 13 member panel.

Asteroids Dedicated To Space Shuttle Columbia Crew
Crew of the Space Shuttle Columbia memorialized in the cosmos

CAIB Issues Preliminary Recommendation Five
The Columbia Accident Investigation Board suggests On-board Ascent Imaging

CAIB Issues Preliminary Recommendation Four
The Columbia Accident Investigation Board suggests Launch and Ascent Imaging

Caib Issues Preliminary Recommendation Three
The Columbia Accident Investigation Board suggests On-Orbit/On-Station TPS Inspection and Repair Capability

Foam Impact Test Breaks Reinforced Carbon-Carbon Panel
CAIB Has Not Reached Any Final Conclusions

Shuttle Leading Edge Foam Impact Test Update
The Columbia Accident Investigation Board Initial Results

CAIB Updates Foam Testing
Completed The First Round

Columbia Accident Investigation Board (CAIB)
CAIB Releases Working Scenario

Columbia Accident Investigation Board Focuses Efforts
CAIB Process Will Continue

CAIB Issues Preliminary Recommendations
CAIB suggests Improve Inspection/Testing of RCC Components, Shuttle Imaging on Orbit

Columbia’s Recorder Provides Useful Data
Orbiter Experiment Support System (OEX)

Accident Board Grieves for Searchers Lost in Helicopter Crash
CAIB Sends Condolences

Review of Columbia’s Data Recorder Will Begin This Weekend
Orbiter Experiments Supports System (OEX)

Columbia Data Recorder Recovered
Orbiter Experiment Support System Recorder (OEX)

CAIB Chairman Names New Members
Including First Woman In Space

Diverse Team of Experts Supports Independent Shuttle Accident Probe
Nation’s Most Experienced Investigators and Safety Experts

Advanced Sightings Team Brings Together Many Data Sources
CAIB Advanced Sightings Team

CAIB Opens Washington Office
The CAIB Names Assistant for Government Relations

CAIB Board Chairman Names New Member
Dr. Sheila E. Widnall of MIT Newest Member Of The CAIB

Hot Plasma Possible in Columbia Left Wheel Well
Thermal Analysis Shows

Space Shuttle Accident Investigation Board Chair Tours Recovery Area
Views Debris