Space Shuttle Columbia

 

Date	February 1, 2003; 22 years ago
Time	8:59 am EST (13:59 UTC)
Location	Over Texas and Louisiana
Cause	Damage to the left wing's edge by debris from the external tank during launch
Outcome	Loss of Columbia and seven astronauts; Space Shuttle fleet grounded for 29 months and subsequently retired after completion of the International Space Station.
Deaths	Rick Husband, commander William C. McCool, pilot Michael P. Anderson, mission specialist Kalpana Chawla, mission specialist David M. Brown, mission specialist Laurel Clark, mission specialist Ilan Ramon, payload specialist
Inquiries	Columbia Accident Investigation Board