![]() ![]() This was the fifth time that foam had been observed breaking off of a bipod ramp, and the problem had become so common that it even had a name: foam shedding. Furthermore, NASA engineers believed that if extensive damage did occur, the crew members wouldn’t be able to remedy the situation while the shuttle was in orbit. However, ground workers weren’t able to determine exactly where the damage occurred or how severe it was. However, about 80 seconds into the shuttle’s launch from the Kennedy Space Center, a large piece of foam insulation split off from the “bipod ramp” - a piece used to attach the external tank to the shuttle.Įngineers used camera footage to review the incident, and found that the suitcase-sized piece of foam struck the shuttle’s left wing as it fell. On January 16, 2003, Columbia embarked on its 28th space shuttle mission, designated STS-107, to carry out a series of microgravity science experiments. The unfortunate event shook the science community and the public, but the lessons taken away from the incident overhauled NASA’s approach to safety concerns and future space travel. This year, 2023, marks the 20th anniversary of Columbia’s last space shuttle mission, which suffered a catastrophic and fatal end on Feb. 26, to honor the crew members who lost their lives during the Apollo 1 fire and the Challenger and Columbia space shuttle disasters, as well as other NASA employees who have perished while advancing space exploration. NASA is holding its annual Day of Remembrance today, Thursday, Jan. ![]()
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