Crewed spacecraftLost
Space Shuttle Columbia
Space Shuttle orbiter
Space Shuttle Columbia was NASA OV-102 and the first Space Shuttle orbiter to fly in space. It opened the shuttle program with STS-1 in 1981, supported test flights, Spacelab and microgravity research, observatory deployment, and long-duration science missions before it was lost with the STS-107 crew during in 2003.
Crewed spacecraft dossier
Flight profile
- Orbits
- 4,808
Vehicle record
- NASA designation
- OV-102
- Manufacturer
- Rockwell International
- Flights
- 28
- First flight
- STS-1, April 12-14, 1981
- Final flight
- STS-107, January 16-February 1, 2003
- Distance
- 201,497,772 km
- Status
- Destroyed during ; recovered remains stored at Kennedy Space Center
People Who Flew Aboard This Spacecraft
John W. YoungSTS-1 / Commander / April 12-14, 1981; STS-9 / Commander / November 28-December 8, 1983
Robert L. CrippenSTS-1 / Pilot / April 12-14, 1981
Joe H. EngleSTS-2 / Commander / November 12-14, 1981Joe H. EngleSTS-2 / Commander / November 12-14, 1981
Richard H. TrulySTS-2 / Pilot / November 12-14, 1981
Charles G. FullertonSTS-3 / Pilot / March 22-30, 1982
Jack R. LousmaSTS-3 / Commander / March 22-30, 1982
Henry W. Hartsfield Jr.STS-4 / Pilot / June 27-July 4, 1982
Thomas Kenneth Mattingly IISTS-4 / Commander / June 27-July 4, 1982
Joseph P. AllenSTS-5 / Mission Specialist / November 11-16, 1982
Robert F. OvermyerSTS-5 / Pilot / November 11-16, 1982
Vance D. BrandSTS-5 / Commander / November 11-16, 1982; STS-35 / Commander / December 2-10, 1990
William B. LenoirSTS-5 / Mission Specialist / November 11-16, 1982
Brewster Shaw Jr.STS-9 / Pilot / November 28-December 8, 1983; STS-28 / Commander / August 8-13, 1989
Byron LichtenbergSTS-9 / Payload Specialist / November 28-December 8, 1983
Owen K. GarriottSTS-9 / Mission Specialist / November 28-December 8, 1983
Robert ParkerSTS-9 / Mission Specialist / November 28-December 8, 1983; STS-35 / Mission Specialist / December 2-10, 1990
Ulf MerboldSTS-9 / Payload Specialist / November 28-December 8, 1983
Bill NelsonSTS-61-C / Payload Specialist / January 12-18, 1986
Charles F. Bolden Jr.STS-61-C / Pilot / January 12-January 18, 1986
Franklin R. Chang-DiazSTS-61-C / Mission Specialist / January 12-18, 1986; STS-75 / Mission Specialist / February 22-March 9, 1996
George D. NelsonSTS-61-C / Mission Specialist / January 12-18, 1986
Robert GibsonSTS-61-C / Commander / January 12-18, 1986
Robert J. CenkerSTS-61-C / Payload Specialist / January 12-18, 1986
Steven A. HawleySTS-61-C / Mission Specialist / January 12-18, 1986; STS-93 / Mission Specialist / July 23-28, 1999
David Cornell LeestmaSTS-28 / Mission Specialist / August 8-August 13, 1989
James C. AdamsonSTS-28 / Mission Specialist / August 8-13, 1989
Mark N. BrownSTS-28 / Mission Specialist / August 8-13, 1989
Richard N. RichardsSTS-28 / Pilot / August 8-August 13, 1989; STS-50 / Commander / June 25-July 9, 1992
Bonnie J. DunbarSTS-32 / Mission Specialist / January 9-20, 1990; STS-50 / Mission Specialist / June 25-July 9, 1992
Daniel C. BrandensteinSTS-32 / Commander / January 9-January 20, 1990
George David LowSTS-32 / Mission Specialist / January 9-20, 1990
James D. WetherbeeSTS-32 / Pilot / January 9-20, 1990; STS-52 / Commander / October 22-November 1, 1992
Marsha Sue IvinsSTS-32 / Mission Specialist / January 9-20, 1990; STS-62 / Mission Specialist / March 4-18, 1994
Guy S. GardnerSTS-35 / Pilot / December 2-11, 1990
Jeffrey Alan HoffmanSTS-35 / Mission Specialist / December 2-11, 1990; STS-75 / Payload Commander / February 22-March 9, 1996
John Michael LoungeSTS-35 / Mission Specialist / Flight Engineer / December 2-10, 1990
Ronald A. PariseSTS-35 / Payload Specialist / December 2-December 10, 1990
Samuel T. DurranceSTS-35 / Payload Specialist / December 2-11, 1990
Bryan D. O'ConnorSTS-40 / Commander / June 5-June 14, 1991
F. Drew GaffneySTS-40 / Payload Specialist / June 5-14, 1991
James P. BagianSTS-40 / Mission Specialist / June 5-14, 1991
Margaret Rhea SeddonSTS-40 / Mission Specialist / June 5-14, 1991; STS-58 / Mission Specialist / October 18-November 1, 1993
Millie Elizabeth Hughes-FulfordSTS-40 / Payload Specialist / June 5-14, 1991
Sidney McNeill GutierrezSTS-40 / Pilot / June 5-14, 1991
Tamara Elizabeth JerniganSTS-40 / Mission Specialist / June 5-14, 1991; STS-52 / Mission Specialist / October 22-November 1, 1992; STS-80 / Mission Specialist / November 19-December 7, 1996
Carl J. MeadeSTS-50 / Mission Specialist / June 25-July 9, 1992
Ellen S. BakerSTS-50 / Mission Specialist / June 25-July 9, 1992
Eugene H. TrinhSTS-50 / Payload Specialist / June 25-July 9, 1992
Kenneth D. BowersoxSTS-50 / Pilot / June 25-July 9, 1992; STS-73 / Commander / October 20-November 5, 1995
Lawrence J. DeLucasSTS-50 / Payload Specialist / June 25-July 9, 1992
Charles Lacy VeachSTS-52 / Mission Specialist / October 22-November 1, 1992
Michael A. BakerSTS-52 / Pilot / October 22-November 1, 1992
Steven Glenwood MacLeanSTS-52 / Payload Specialist / October 22-November 1, 1992
William M. ShepherdSTS-52 / Mission Specialist / October 22-November 1, 1992
Bernard Anthony Harris Jr.STS-55 / Mission Specialist / April 26-May 6, 1993
Charles J. PrecourtSTS-55 / Mission Specialist / April 26-May 6, 1993
Hans SchlegelSTS-55 / Payload Specialist / April 26-May 6, 1993
Jerry L. RossSTS-55 / Mission Specialist / April 26-May 6, 1993
Steven R. NagelSTS-55 / Commander / April 26-May 6, 1993
Terence Thomas HenricksSTS-55 / Pilot / April 26-May 6, 1993; STS-78 / Commander / June 20-July 7, 1996
Ulrich WalterSTS-55 / Payload Specialist / April 26-May 6, 1993
David A. WolfSTS-58 / Mission Specialist / October 18-November 1, 1993
John E. BlahaSTS-58 / Commander / October 18-November 1, 1993
Martin J. FettmanSTS-58 / Payload Specialist / October 18-November 1, 1993
Richard A. SearfossSTS-58 / Pilot / October 18-November 1, 1993; STS-90 / Commander / April 17-May 3, 1998
Shannon W. LucidSTS-58 / Mission Specialist / October 18-November 1, 1993
William S. McArthur Jr.STS-58 / Mission Specialist / October 18-November 1, 1993
Andrew M. AllenSTS-62 / Pilot / March 4-18, 1994; STS-75 / Commander / February 22-March 9, 1996
Charles D. GemarSTS-62 / Mission Specialist / March 4-March 18, 1994
John H. CasperSTS-62 / Commander / March 4-18, 1994
Pierre J. ThuotSTS-62 / Mission Specialist / March 4-18, 1994
Carl E. WalzSTS-65 / Mission Specialist / July 8-July 23, 1994
Chiaki MukaiSTS-65 / Payload Specialist / July 8-July 23, 1994
Donald A. ThomasSTS-65 / Mission Specialist / July 8-23, 1994; STS-83 / Mission Specialist / April 4-8, 1997; STS-94 / Mission Specialist / July 1-17, 1997
James Donald Halsell Jr.STS-65 / Pilot / July 8-23, 1994; STS-83 / Commander / April 4-8, 1997; STS-94 / Commander / July 1-17, 1997
Leroy ChiaoSTS-65 / Mission Specialist / July 8-23, 1994
Richard James HiebSTS-65 / Payload Commander / July 8-23, 1994
Robert D. CabanaSTS-65 / Commander / July 8-23, 1994
Albert SaccoSTS-73 / Payload Specialist / October 20-November 5, 1995
Catherine G. ColemanSTS-73 / Mission Specialist / October 20-November 5, 1995; STS-93 / Mission Specialist / July 23-28, 1999
Frederick Weldon LeslieSTS-73 / Payload Specialist / October 20-November 5, 1995
Kathryne D. ThorntonSTS-73 / N/A / N/A
Kent V. RomingerSTS-73 / Pilot / October 20-November 5, 1995; STS-80 / Pilot / November 19-December 7, 1996
Michael E. Lopez-AlegriaSTS-73 / Mission Specialist / N/AMiguel Eladio López AlegríaSTS-73 / Mission Specialist / N/A
Claude NicollierSTS-75 / Mission Specialist / February 22-March 9, 1996
Maurizio CheliSTS-75 / Mission Specialist / February 22-March 9, 1996
Scott Jay HorowitzSTS-75 / Pilot / February 22-March 9, 1996
Umberto GuidoniSTS-75 / Payload Specialist / February 22-March 9, 1996
Charles E. Brady Jr.STS-78 / Mission Specialist / June 20-July 7, 1996
Jean-Jacques FavierSTS-78 / Payload Specialist / June 20-July 7, 1996
Kevin Richard KregelSTS-78 / Pilot / June 20-July 7, 1996; STS-87 / Commander / November 19-December 5, 1997
Richard Michael LinnehanSTS-78 / Mission Specialist / June 20-July 7, 1996; STS-90 / Payload Commander / April 17-May 3, 1998; STS-109 / Mission Specialist / March 1-12, 2002
Robert ThirskSTS-78 / Payload Specialist / June 20-July 7, 1996
Susan Jane HelmsSTS-78 / Payload Commander / June 20-July 7, 1996
Kenneth Dale CockrellSTS-80 / Commander / November 19-December 7, 1996
Story MusgraveSTS-80 / Mission Specialist / November 19-December 7, 1996
Thomas David JonesSTS-80 / Mission Specialist / November 19-December 7, 1996
Gregory Thomas LinterisSTS-83 / Payload Specialist / April 4-8, 1997; STS-94 / Payload Specialist / July 1-17, 1997
Janice E. VossSTS-83 / Mission Specialist / April 4-8, 1997; STS-94 / Mission Specialist / July 1-17, 1997
Michael L. GernhardtSTS-83 / Mission Specialist / April 4-8, 1997; STS-94 / Mission Specialist / July 1-17, 1997
Roger Keith CrouchSTS-83 / Payload Specialist / April 4-8, 1997; STS-94 / Payload Specialist / July 1-17, 1997
Susan L. Kilrain (Still)STS-83 / N/A / N/A; STS-94 / N/A / N/A
Kalpana ChawlaSTS-87 / Mission Specialist / November 19-December 5, 1997; STS-107 / Mission Specialist / January 16-February 1, 2003
Leonid Kostyantynovych KadenyukSTS-87 / Payload Specialist / November 19-December 5, 1997
Steven Wayne LindseySTS-87 / Pilot / November 19-December 5, 1997
Takao DoiSTS-87 / Mission Specialist / November 19-December 5, 1997
Winston E. ScottSTS-87 / Mission Specialist / November 19-December 5, 1997
Dafydd Rhys WilliamsSTS-90 / Mission Specialist / April 17-May 3, 1998
James A. PawelczykSTS-90 / Payload Specialist / April 17-May 3, 1998
Jay C. BuckeySTS-90 / Payload Specialist / April 17-May 3, 1998
Kathryn Patricia HireSTS-90 / Mission Specialist / April 17-May 3, 1998
Scott D. AltmanSTS-90 / Pilot / April 17-May 3, 1998; STS-109 / Commander / March 1-12, 2002
Eileen Marie CollinsSTS-93 / Commander / July 23-28, 1999
Jeffrey S. AshbySTS-93 / Pilot / July 23-28, 1999
Michel Ange-Charles TogniniSTS-93 / Mission Specialist / July 23-27, 1999
Duane G. CareySTS-109 / Pilot / March 1-12, 2002
James H. NewmanSTS-109 / Mission Specialist / March 1-12, 2002
John Mace GrunsfeldSTS-109 / Mission Specialist / March 1-12, 2002
Michael James MassiminoSTS-109 / Mission Specialist / March 1-12, 2002
Nancy J. Currie-GreggSTS-109 / Mission Specialist / March 1-12, 2002
David M. BrownSTS-107 / Mission Specialist / January 16-February 1, 2003
Ilan RamonSTS-107 / Payload Specialist / January 16-February 1, 2003
Laurel Blair ClarkSTS-107 / Mission Specialist / January 16-February 1, 2003
Michael P. AndersonSTS-107 / Mission Specialist / January 16-February 1, 2003
Richard Douglas HusbandSTS-107 / Commander / January 16-February 1, 2003
William C. McCoolSTS-107 / Pilot / January 16-February 1, 2003Photo Archive
Documented views of this individual vehicle, with source and credit retained alongside each image.
Sources
NASA Space Shuttle Era FactsNASA Orbiter Vehicle HistoryNASA History: Columbia Returns to Space on STS-2NASA Space Shuttle Missions Summary (TM-2011-216142)NASA Space Shuttle History ResourcesNASA: STS-3NASA: STS-4NASA: STS-5NASA: STS-9NASA History: STS-9, the First Spacelab Science MissionNASA: STS-61-CNASA: STS-28NASA: STS-32NASA: STS-35NASA: STS-40NASA: STS-50NASA: STS-52NASA: STS-55NASA: STS-58NASA: STS-62NASA: STS-65NASA: STS-73NASA: STS-75NASA: STS-78NASA: STS-80NASA: STS-83NASA: STS-94NASA: STS-87NASA: STS-90NASA: STS-93NASA: STS-109NASA Science: Chandra X-ray ObservatoryNASA: The Great Observatories