STS-107
Columbia completes a dedicated research mission before being lost during reentry
STS-107 conducted sixteen days of around-the-clock research in SPACEHAB and the FREESTAR payload, spanning life science, materials, combustion, , and technology. Columbia and its seven astronauts were lost during on February 1, 2003, after ascent debris had damaged the 's left wing.
Mission dossier
Flight profile, locations, hardware, and outcome in the same reference format used throughout the archive.
Flight profile
- Launch
- January 16, 2003
- Mission duration
- 15 days, 22 hours, 20 minutes, 32 seconds
- Orbits
- 255
- Inclination
- 39.0 degrees
Places and recovery
Mission record
- Reentry loss
- February 1, 2003
- Mission type
- Microgravity research
- Vehicle
- STS-107 flight stack
- Orbiter
- Space Shuttle Columbia (OV-102)
- Crew and station travelers
- 7
Assignment Manifest
The flight crew and the backup team assigned to train for this mission.
Prime crew
7 assignments
David M. Brownprime crewMission Specialist (launch)Launched January 16, 200315 days, 22 hours, 20 minutes, 32 secondsMission Specialist (launch) aboard STS-107 flight stack.Open astronaut archive
Ilan Ramonprime crewPayload Specialist (launch)Launched January 16, 200315 days, 22 hours, 20 minutes, 32 secondsPayload Specialist (launch) aboard STS-107 flight stack.Open astronaut archive
Kalpana Chawlaprime crewMission Specialist (launch)Launched January 16, 200315 days, 22 hours, 20 minutes, 32 secondsMission Specialist (launch) aboard STS-107 flight stack.Open astronaut archive
Laurel Blair Clarkprime crewMission Specialist (launch)Launched January 16, 200315 days, 22 hours, 20 minutes, 32 secondsMission Specialist (launch) aboard STS-107 flight stack.Open astronaut archive
Michael P. Andersonprime crewMission Specialist (launch)Launched January 16, 200315 days, 22 hours, 20 minutes, 32 secondsMission Specialist (launch) aboard STS-107 flight stack.Open astronaut archive
Richard Douglas Husbandprime crewCommander (launch)Launched January 16, 200315 days, 22 hours, 20 minutes, 32 secondsCommander (launch) aboard STS-107 flight stack.Open astronaut archive
William C. McCoolprime crewPilot (launch)Launched January 16, 200315 days, 22 hours, 20 minutes, 32 secondsPilot (launch) aboard STS-107 flight stack.Open astronaut archiveMission Purpose
2 sources- Conduct microgravity, life-science, physical-science, Earth-observation, and technology experiments.
- Operate the Spacehab Research Double Module as a dedicated research laboratory.
- Support international research payloads, including Israeli science investigations.
- Return Columbia and experiment results after the planned research mission.
Planned Flight Plan
2 sources- Launch
Research mission begins
Columbia launched from Kennedy Space Center carrying a seven-person crew and a dedicated Spacehab research payload.
- On orbit
Round-the-clock science
The crew worked in shifts to conduct research across life sciences, physical sciences, combustion, materials, and .
- Entry
Planned Kennedy landing
The mission plan called for Columbia to reenter and land at Kennedy Space Center after completing the research program.
Mission Timeline
2 sources- January 16, 2003
Launch
Columbia began a dedicated sixteen-day research mission.
- Orbital mission
Continuous research
Two crew shifts operated SPACEHAB and FREESTAR experiments around the clock.
- February 1, 2003
Loss of Columbia
The broke apart during after left-wing damage sustained at launch.
- After the accident
Investigation and redesign
The Shuttle fleet was grounded while investigators determined causes and NASA changed hardware and operations.