Space Shuttle Columbia Disaster Remembered 10 Years Later

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http://www.space.com/19586-shuttle-columbia-disaster-spaceflight-dangerous.html
Columbia Shuttle Disaster's Tough Lesson: Spaceflight Still Dangerous
February 1, 2013

The tragic destruction of the space shuttle Columbia 10 years ago today (Feb. 1) taught NASA and the nation a tough lesson: Despite the strides that have been made over the years, human spaceflight remains a dangerous proposition.

Columbia broke apart upon re-entering Earth's atmosphere on Feb. 1, 2003, destroying the orbiter and killing all seven astronauts on board. The accident jolted NASA out of a complacency that had developed in the 17 years since the other major shuttle disaster, the 1986 disintegration of Challenger shortly after liftoff, experts say.
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http://www.wfaa.com/news/national/189272441.html
Space shuttle Columbia: What happened 10 years ago
January 31, 2013


Credit: NASA . Getty images
UNDATED FILE PHOTO: The crew of Space Shuttle Columbia's mission STS-107 take a break from their training regime to pose for the traditional crew portrait. Seated in front are astronauts Rick D. Husband (L), mission commander; Kalpana Chawla, mission specialist; and William C. McCool, pilot. Standing are (L to R) astronauts David M. Brown, Laurel B. Clark, and Michael P. Anderson, all mission specialists; and Ilan Ramon, payload specialist representing the Israeli Space Agency.

Ten years ago Friday, the space shuttle Columbia was destroyed and its seven astronauts killed during the final minutes of its flight.
NASA will mark the 10th anniversary of the accident at Florida's Kennedy Space Center, and take part in an observance at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, where three of the astronauts are buried.
Other commemorations Friday include events at a 2-year-old Columbia museum in Hemphill, Texas, where shuttle debris fell. PBS is also airing a new documentary about Ilan Ramon, the Israeli astronaut on Columbia.
The wife of the shuttle's commander, Evelyn Husband Thompson, said she has seen the film and was overjoyed to see footage of the crew that she'd never seen before. But she wept at the liftoff scene. "Just because I know the end of the story, as we all do now," she said.
 
What happened on Feb. 1, 2003:
THE SHUTTLE: NASA's oldest shuttle, Columbia was returning from a 16-day science mission when it broke apart over Texas, just minutes before it was due to land in Cape Canaveral, Fla
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[MuffyBee]

http://www.ksdk.com/news/article/360223/28/10th-anniversary-of-Columbia-disaster---PHOTOS
10th anniversary of Columbia disaster - PHOTOS
January 31, 2013

Friday, February 1, 2013 marks the 10th anniversary of the Columbia space shuttle disaster. Photos courtesy of Getty Images.

[MuffyBee]

http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/01/us/columbia-anniversary/?hpt=us_c1
NASA, Texas towns mark Columbia disaster
February 1, 2013

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