STS-107 Payload

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STS-107 Payload

(Columbia's Last Flight)

On January 16th, 2003, Space Shuttle Columbia was launched from Kennedy Space Center on a mission devoted to Research and included more than 80 experiments studying the Earth and Space science, advanced technology development and astronaut health and safety. The majority of the experiments were located on Columbia's middeck and in the SpaceHab Research Double Module which was the main payload onboard. There were also other experiments on a pallet in the payload bay, the FREESTAR (Fast Reaction Experiments Enabling Science, Technology, Applications and Research). There was also the EDO kit (Extended Duration Orbiter) used for this 16- day flight.

Among the crew was the first Israeli astronaut, Ilan Ramon. Commander Rick Husband, Pilot William Mc Cool, mission specialists Kalpana Chawla, David Brown, Michael Anderson and Laurel Clark.

During Columbia's ascent after launch, ground cameras detected debris falling off from the External tank and hitting the orbiter on the left wing leading edge. Once the shuttle reached orbit the crew was informed about the event that took place during the ascent. It was believed that the bipod foam was the debri that hit the wing. The orbiter did not carry the Remote arm for this flight, nor was a mission to the Space Station.

At the end of the mission on Re-entry day, on Feb. 1, 2003, at 8:15 am, Columbia fires braking rockets for re-entry. At 8:53 am, ground controllers lose hydraulic temperature data. Shuttle crew is not alerted. At 8:56 am sensors show rise in temperature, pressure on shuttle's left-side landing gear. At 8:58 am data is lost from three temperature sensors in shuttle's left wing. At 8:59 am eastern time, data is lost from left side tire temperature, pressure sensors. Crew is alerted. Approximately at 9 am All vehicle data is lost. Shuttle was traveling at mach 18.3 over Texas at that time. Noise and lights in sky was reported over Texas and Louisiana. NASA declares emergency at 9:29 am. At 9:44 am NASA warns residents to stay away from falling debris. At 1 pm, NASA announces loss of shuttle. At 2 pm President Bush tells nation: "Columbia is lost. There are no survivors."

NASA suspends all shuttle flights at 3:20 pm for the length of investigation.

" Mankind is led into the darkness beyond our world by the inspiration of discovery and the longing to understand. Our journey into space will go on."

President George W. Bush

Feb. 1, 2003