PHOTOS: 18 years since the tragic Columbia Space Shuttle disaster
By FOX 35 News Staff
Published
18 years since Space Shuttle Columbia disaster
On February 1st, 2003, seven astronauts lost their lives as the Columbia Space Shuttle broke up during reentry.
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - On February 1st, 2003, seven astronauts lost their lives as the Columbia Space Shuttle broke up during re-entry.
The seven astronauts on board were Rick D. Husband, Kalpana Chawla, William C. McCool, David M. Brown, Laurel B. Clark, and Michael P. Anderson, and Ilan Ramon. They spent 16 days in space doing science experiments and research.
The Columbia Shuttle was said to be the second time the space agency lost a vehicle in a catastrophic accident. Prior to this was the Challenger tragedy in 1986.