Its first operational mission, with a four-man crew, was STS-5, which launched on November 11, 1982. Columbia then undertook three further research missions to test its technical characteristics and performance. It launched on April 12, 1981, the 20th anniversary of human spaceflight, and returned on April 14, 1981, after orbiting the Earth 36 times. The first flight of Columbia STS-1 was commanded by John Young (a space veteran from the Project Gemini and Project Apollo and piloted by Robert Crippen, who had never been in space before, but who served as a support crew member for the Skylab missions and Apollo-Soyuz. On March 19, 1981, during preparations for a ground test,two workers were asphyxiated during a nitrogen purge, resulting in two deaths. Kennedy Space Center on March 25, 1979, to prepare for its first launch. After construction, the orbiter arrived at John F. The name also honored Columbia, the Apollo Command/Service Module of Apollo 11. Columbia was named after the Boston, Massachusetts based sloop. All open work shown on these charts was completed and reported to Space Shuttle management.History Construction Construction began on Columbia in 1975 primarily in palmdale, California. These charts do not represent a comprehensive look at the analysis, which included extensive verbal communication, and took place over more than a week while Columbia was in orbit. Mission managers concurred with that conclusion. 27 with the conclusion that the effects of the debris did not pose a safety of flight concern for Columbia. The analysis was presented to the STS-107 Mission Management Team on Jan. Three sets of charts, from January 21, January 23, and January 24, were part of an analysis conducted during the STS-107 mission of the impact of external tank foam debris striking Columbia during ascent. + Report of the Presidential Commission on the Space Shuttleīoeing Debris Impact Assessment Charts (02-21-03) + Columbia Accident Investigation Board Report Investigation into a certification issues involving the potential for fiber damage and explosion hazards. Materials Science and Engineering Education Reconstructing the processes material underwent to reach its existing State.ĭevelopment of on-orbit RCC drill/reamer and other on-orbit RCC Repair Hardware.
Material/Failure Analysis for Graduate Students. The mission of Space Shuttle Columbia continues today by shedding light on the reentry process, helping to create a foundation for the spacecraft of tomorrow, and to educate new generations. In time, more pieces of Columbia are expected to be loaned for testing and used to expand the understanding of the rigors of space flight. This request should detail their previous experience, plans for use of the orbiter debris, and the scientific benefits expected to be gained by their research.Ĭurrently there are more than 60 loan requests that have been received by the Columbia Research & Preservation Office and numerous pieces of debris constantly out on loan. Scientific, academic and governmental organizations interested are asked to submit their requests. NASA believes permitting access to the debris will allow companies to design and build safer, more reliable components for future spacecraft, as well as developing technologies that improve safety and further knowledge about the effects of reentry.
With sights set on the future of space flight, NASA provides Columbia debris material for research to the aerospace and educational industry.