View source for Space Shuttle Columbia

{{Short description|Space Shuttle orbiter (1981–2003)}}
{{Italic title|string=Columbia}}
{{Use American English|date=August 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox individual space vehicle
| name              = ''Columbia''
| image             = Space Shuttle Columbia lands following STS-62 on 18 March 1994. (cropped).jpg
| image_alt         = Columbia touches the concrete runway with its rear landing gear at Kennedy Space Center. The tires leave smoke in their wake. Green grass in front of the runway, trees behind, and the blue sky above complement the black and white orbiter.
| caption           = ''Columbia'' landing at Kennedy on March 18, 1994, at the conclusion of STS-62
| type              = [[Spaceplane]]
| class             = [[Space Shuttle orbiter]]
| serial            = OV-102
| eponym            = {{Ubl|''[[Columbia Rediviva]]''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/shuttleoperations/orbiters/columbia_info.html|title=NASA - Space Shuttle Overview: Columbia (OV-102)|website=www.nasa.gov|access-date=October 17, 2017|archive-date=June 1, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230601131248/https://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/shuttleoperations/orbiters/columbia_info.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>|[[Command Module Columbia|Apollo CSM ''Columbia'']]<ref name="NASA, 2003" />}}
| owner             = [[NASA]]
| manufacturer      = [[Rockwell International]]

| dimensions        = 
| dry_mass          = {{Convert|81600|kg|abbr=on}}
| communication     = 
| power             = 
| rocket            = [[Space Shuttle]]

| first_flight_date = April 12–14, 1981
| first_flight      = [[STS-1]]
| last_flight_date  = January 16&nbsp;– February 1, 2003
| last_flight       = [[STS-107]]
| flights           = 28
| time              = 7,218 hours<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/network/news/space/129/129quicklook2.pdf|title=STS-129/ISS-ULF3 Quick-Look Data|first=William|last=Harwood|date=October 12, 2009|work=[[CBS News]]|access-date=November 30, 2009}}</ref>
| traveled          = {{Convert|201497772|km|abbr=on}} around [[Earth]]
| orbits            = 4,808 around Earth
| fate              = [[Space Shuttle Columbia disaster|Disintegrated during re-entry]]
| previous          = ''[[Space Shuttle Enterprise|Enterprise]]''
| next              = ''[[Space Shuttle Challenger|Challenger]]''
}}

'''Space Shuttle ''Columbia''''' ('''OV-102''') was a [[Space Shuttle orbiter]] manufactured by [[Rockwell International]] and operated by [[NASA]]. Named after the [[Columbia Rediviva|first American ship]] to circumnavigate the globe, and the [[Columbia (personification)|female personification]] of the United States, ''Columbia'' was the first of five Space Shuttle orbiters to fly in space, debuting the [[Space Shuttle|Space Shuttle launch vehicle]] on [[STS-1|its maiden flight]] on April 12, 1981 and becoming the first spacecraft to be re-used after its first flight when it launched on [[STS-2]] on November 12, 1981. As only the second full-scale orbiter to be manufactured after the [[Approach and Landing Tests|Approach and Landing Test]] vehicle ''[[Space Shuttle Enterprise|Enterprise]]'', ''Columbia'' retained unique external and internal features compared with later orbiters, such as test instrumentation and distinctive black [[Chine (aeronautics)|chines]]. In addition to a heavier aft fuselage and the retention of an internal [[airlock]] throughout its lifetime, these made ''Columbia'' the heaviest of the five spacefaring orbiters: around {{Convert|1,000|kg|lbs|abbr=off}} heavier than ''[[Space Shuttle Challenger|Challenger]]'' and {{Convert|3,600|kg|lbs|abbr=off}} heavier than ''[[Space Shuttle Endeavour|Endeavour]]'' when originally constructed. ''Columbia'' also carried [[ejection seat]]s based on those from the [[Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird|SR-71]] during its first six flights until 1983, and from 1986 onwards carried an imaging pod on its [[vertical stabilizer]].

During its 22 years of operation, ''Columbia'' was flown on 28 missions in the [[Space Shuttle program]], spending over 300 days in space and completing over 4,000 orbits around Earth. NASA's flagship orbiter, ''Columbia'' often flew flights dedicated to scientific research in orbit following the [[Space Shuttle Challenger disaster|loss of ''Challenger'']] in 1986. ''Columbia'' was used for eleven of the fifteen flights of [[Spacelab]] laboratories, all four United States Microgravity Payload missions, and the only flight of [[Spacehab]]'s [[Research Double Module]]. ''Columbia'' flew many of the longest duration space shuttle missions, all dedicated to scientific research. The only space shuttle that could rival ''Columbia'''s long missions was ''[[Space Shuttle Endeavour|Endeavour]]'', which flew the [[STS-67]] mission that lasted for nearly 17 days. In 1992, NASA modified ''Columbia'' to be able to fly some of the longest missions in the Shuttle Program history using the [[Extended Duration Orbiter#EDO Pallet|Extended Duration Orbiter pallet]]. The orbiter used the pallet in thirteen of the pallet's fourteen flights, which aided lengthy stays in orbit for scientific and technological research missions. The longest duration flight of the Shuttle Program, [[STS-80]], was flown with ''Columbia'' in 1996, at over 17 days in orbit. ''Columbia'' was also used to deploy the first ever satellites into orbit by the Shuttle on [[STS-5]], retrieve the [[Long Duration Exposure Facility]] and deploy the [[Chandra X-ray Observatory|''Chandra'' observatory]], which was the heaviest payload ever carried by the Space Shuttle. ''Columbia'' also carried into space the [[Eileen Collins|first female commander]] of an American spaceflight mission, the [[Ulf Merbold|first ESA astronaut]], the [[Kalpana Chawla|first female astronaut of Indian origin]], and the [[Ilan Ramon|first Israeli astronaut]].

At the end of its final flight in February 2003, [[Space Shuttle Columbia disaster|''Columbia'' disintegrated upon reentry]], killing the seven-member crew of [[STS-107]] and destroying most of the scientific payloads aboard. The [[Columbia Accident Investigation Board|''Columbia'' Accident Investigation Board]] convened shortly afterwards concluded that damage sustained to the orbiter's left wing during the launch of STS-107 fatally compromised the vehicle's [[Space Shuttle thermal protection system|thermal protection system]]. The loss of ''Columbia'' and its crew led to a refocusing of NASA's human exploration programs and led to the establishment of the [[Constellation program]] in 2005 and the eventual [[Space Shuttle retirement|retirement of the Space Shuttle program]] in 2011. Numerous memorials and dedications were made to honor the crew following the disaster; the [[Columbia Memorial Space Center]] was opened as a national memorial for the accident, and the [[Columbia Hills (Mars)|Columbia Hills]] in [[Mars]]' [[Gusev (Martian crater)|Gusev crater]], which the [[Spirit (rover)|''Spirit'' rover]] explored, were named after the crew. The majority of ''Columbia''{{'}}s recovered remains are stored at the [[Kennedy Space Center]]'s [[Vehicle Assembly Building]], though some pieces are on public display at the nearby [[Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex|Visitor Complex]].

==History==
{{more citations needed|section|date=April 2020}}
Construction began on ''Columbia'' in 1975 at [[Rockwell International]]'s (formerly [[North American Aviation]]/North American Rockwell) principal assembly facility in [[Palmdale, California]], a suburb of Los Angeles. ''Columbia'' was named after the American [[sloop]] ''[[Columbia Rediviva]]'' which, from 1787 to 1793, under the command of [[Robert Gray (sea captain)|Captain Robert Gray]], explored the US Pacific Northwest and became the first American vessel to circumnavigate the globe. It is also named after the [[Apollo command and service module|command module]] of [[Apollo 11]], the first crewed landing on another celestial body.<ref name="NASA, 2003">{{cite web|title=Shuttle Orbiter Columbia (OV-102)|url=https://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/resources/orbiters/columbia.html|website=science.ksc.nasa.gov|publisher=NASA|access-date=July 21, 2017|date=February 1, 2003|archive-date=June 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190606093616/https://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/resources/orbiters/columbia.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> ''Columbia'' was also the [[Columbia (personification)|female symbol]] of the [[United States]].  After construction, the orbiter arrived at [[Kennedy Space Center]] on March 25, 1979, to prepare for its first launch. ''Columbia'' was originally scheduled to lift off in late 1979, however the launch date was delayed by problems with both the [[RS-25]] engine and the [[thermal protection system]] (TPS).<ref name=NTRS>{{Cite journal|author1=Slovinac, Patricia |author2=Deming, Joan |title=Avionics Systems Laboratory/Building 16. Historical Documentation|journal=NASA Technical Reports Server|date=January 2011 |publisher=NASA|hdl=2060/20110002109 }}</ref> On March 19, 1981, during preparations for a ground test, [[Space accidents and incidents#Other non-astronaut fatalities|workers were asphyxiated]] in Columbia's [[nitrogen]]-purged aft engine compartment, resulting in (variously reported) two or three fatalities.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=March 19, 1981: Shuttle Columbia's First Fatalities |url=https://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2009/03/dayintech_0319 |magazine=Wired News |date=March 19, 2009 |access-date=July 29, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Space shuttle worker dies in fall at launch pad |url=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/42072452 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200204134720/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/42072452 |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 4, 2020 |work=NBC News |date=March 14, 2011 |access-date=August 2, 2011}}</ref>
[[File:566175main columbia-opf.jpg|thumb|upright|''Columbia'' in the Orbiter Processing Facility after delivery to Kennedy Space Center in 1979. About 8,000 of 30,000 tiles had not yet been installed.<ref name="Gebhardt, 2011">{{cite web |author=Gebhardt |first=Chris |date=February 1, 2011 |title=Space Shuttle Columbia: A New Beginning and Vision |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2011/02/space-shuttle-columbia-a-new-beginning-and-vision/ |website=www.nasaspaceflight.com}}</ref>]]

The first flight of ''Columbia'' ([[STS-1]]) was commanded by [[John Young (astronaut)|John Young]], a veteran from the [[Project Gemini|Gemini]] and Apollo programs who in 1972 had been the [[Apollo 16|ninth person to walk on the Moon]]; and piloted by [[Robert Crippen]], a rookie astronaut originally selected to fly on the military's [[Manned Orbital Laboratory]] (MOL) spacecraft, but transferred to NASA after its cancellation, and served as a support crew member for the [[Skylab]] and [[Apollo–Soyuz Test Project|Apollo-Soyuz]] missions.

''Columbia'' spent 610 days in the Orbiter Processing Facility (OPF), another 35 days in the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB), and 105 days on Pad 39A before finally lifting off.<ref name=NTRS />  It was successfully launched on April 12, 1981, the 20th anniversary of the first [[human spaceflight]] ([[Vostok 1]]), and returned on April 14, 1981, after orbiting the Earth 36 times, landing on the dry lakebed runway at [[Edwards Air Force Base]] in California. It then undertook three further research missions to test its technical characteristics and performance. Its first operational mission, with a four-man crew, was [[STS-5]], which launched on November 11, 1982. At this point ''Columbia'' was joined by ''[[Space Shuttle Challenger|Challenger]]'', which flew the next three shuttle missions, while ''Columbia'' underwent modifications for the first [[Spacelab]] mission.

[[Image:NASA salutes Reagans.jpg|thumb|right|alt=Astronauts salute dignitaries with the Shuttle's rear landing gear and gear door prominently behind, and other landing support vehicles around the orbiter.|''Columbia'' astronauts [[Ken Mattingly|Thomas K. Mattingly]] and pilot [[Henry Hartsfield]] salute President [[Ronald Reagan]], standing beside his wife, [[Nancy Reagan|Nancy]], upon landing in 1982]]

In 1983, ''Columbia'', under the command of John Young on what was his sixth spaceflight, undertook its second operational mission ([[STS-9]]), in which the Spacelab science laboratory and a six-person crew was carried, including the first non-American astronaut on a space shuttle, [[Ulf Merbold]]. After the flight, it spent 18 months at the Rockwell Palmdale facility beginning in January 1984, undergoing modifications that removed the Orbiter Flight Test hardware and updating it to similar specifications as those of its sister orbiters. At that time the shuttle fleet was expanded to include ''[[Space Shuttle Discovery|Discovery]]'' and ''[[Space Shuttle Atlantis|Atlantis]]''.

''Columbia'' returned to space on January 12, 1986, with the launch of [[STS-61-C]]. The mission's crew included [[Franklin Chang-Diaz]], and the first sitting member of the [[United States House of Representatives|House of Representatives]] to venture into space, [[Bill Nelson]].

The next shuttle mission, [[STS-51-L]], was undertaken by ''Challenger''. It was launched on January 28, 1986, ten days after STS-61-C had landed, and [[Space Shuttle Challenger disaster|ended in disaster]] 73 seconds after launch. Prior to the accident, ''Columbia'' had been slated to be ferried to [[Vandenberg Air Force Base]] to conduct fueling tests and to perform a flight readiness firing at [[Vandenberg AFB Space Launch Complex 6|SLC-6]] to validate the west coast launch site. In the aftermath, NASA's shuttle timetable was disrupted, and the Vandenberg tests, which would have cost $60&nbsp;million, were canceled. ''Columbia'' was not flown again until 1989 (on [[STS-28]]), after which it resumed normal service as part of the shuttle fleet.

[[STS-93]], launched on July 23, 1999, was the first U.S. space mission with a female commander, Lt. Col. [[Eileen Collins]]. This mission deployed the [[Chandra X-ray Observatory]].

''Columbia'''s final complete mission was [[STS-109]], the fourth servicing mission for the [[Hubble Space Telescope]]. Its next mission, [[STS-107]], culminated in the [[Space Shuttle Columbia disaster|orbiter's loss]] when it disintegrated during reentry, killing all seven of its crew.

Consequently, President [[George W. Bush]] decided to retire the Shuttle orbiter fleet by 2010 in favor of the [[Constellation program]] and its crewed [[Orion (Constellation program)|Orion spacecraft]]. The Constellation program was later canceled with the [[NASA Authorization Act of 2010]] signed by President [[Barack Obama]] on October 11.
{{Clear|left}}

===Construction milestones===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! style="background:#efefef;" | Date
! style="background:#efefef;" | Milestone<ref>{{cite web|title=Shuttle Orbiter Columbia (OV-102)|url=http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/resources/orbiters/columbia.html|publisher=NASA/KSC|access-date=November 7, 2012|archive-date=June 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190606093616/https://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/resources/orbiters/columbia.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
| July 26, 1972 
| Contract Awarded to North American Rockwell
|-
| March 25, 1975 
| Start long-lead fabrication aft fuselage
|-
| November 17, 1975 
| Start long-lead fabrication of crew module
|-
| June 28, 1976 
| Start assembly of crew module
|-
| September 13, 1976 
| Start structural assembly of aft fuselage
|-
| December 13, 1977
| Start assembly upper forward fuselage
|-
| January 3, 1977 
| Start assembly vertical stabilizer
|-
| August 26, 1977 
| Wings arrive at Palmdale from Grumman
|-
| October 28, 1977 
| Lower forward fuselage on dock, Palmdale
|-
| November 7, 1977 
| Start of Final Assembly
|-
| February 24, 1978 
| Body flap on dock, Palmdale
|-
| April 28, 1978 
| Forward payload bay doors on dock, Palmdale
|-
| May 26, 1978 
| Upper forward fuselage mate
|-
| July 7, 1978 
| Complete mate forward and aft payload bay doors
|-
| September 11, 1978 
| Complete forward RCS
|-
| February 3, 1979 
| Complete combined systems test, Palmdale
|-
| February 16, 1979 
| Airlock on dock, Palmdale
|-
| March 5, 1979
| Complete postcheckout
|-
| March 8, 1979 
| Closeout inspection, Final Acceptance Palmdale
|-
| March 8, 1979 
| Rollout from Palmdale to Dryden
|-
| March 12, 1979 
| Overland transport from Palmdale to Edwards
|-
| March 20, 1979 
| SCA Ferry Flight from DFRC to Biggs AFB, Texas
|-
| March 22, 1979 
| SCA Ferry flight from Biggs AFB to Kelly AFB, Texas
|-
| March 24, 1979 
| SCA Ferry flight from Kelly AFB to Eglin AFB, Florida
|-
| March 24, 1979 
| SCA Ferry flight from Eglin, AFB to KSC
|-
| November 3, 1979 
| Auxiliary Power Unit hot fire tests, OPF KSC
|-
| December 16, 1979 
| Orbiter integrated test start, KSC
|-
| January 14, 1980 
| Orbiter integrated test complete, KSC
|-
| February 20, 1981 
| Flight Readiness Firing
|-
| April 12, 1981 
| First Flight (STS-1)
|}

==First operational orbiter==

===Weight===
As the second orbiter to be constructed and the first able to fly into space, ''Columbia'' was roughly {{convert|8000|lb|abbr=on}} heavier than subsequent orbiters such as [[Space Shuttle Endeavour|''Endeavour'']] when she was first constructed, which had benefited from advances in materials technology.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/features/000414overhaul/weightloss.html |title=Orbiter Overhaul: The Columbia weight loss plan |publisher=Spaceflight Now |date=April 14, 2000 |access-date=July 17, 2009}}</ref> In part, this was due to heavier wing and fuselage spars, the weight of early test instrumentation that remained fitted to the avionics suite, and an internal airlock that, originally fitted into the other orbiters, was later removed in favor of an external airlock to facilitate Shuttle/[[Mir]] and Shuttle/[[International Space Station]] dockings.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/features/000414overhaul/future.html |title=Orbiter Overhaul: Flying into the future |publisher=Spaceflight Now |date=April 14, 2000 |access-date=July 17, 2009}}</ref>.''Columbia'' was not modified for the planned [[Centaur (rocket stage)|Centaur-G]] booster (canceled after the loss of ''Challenger'').<ref>{{cite book|last=Lardas|first=Mark|title=Space Shuttle Launch System: 1972-2004|year=2012|publisher=Osprey Publishing|pages=35}}</ref> The retention of the internal airlock allowed NASA to use ''Columbia'' for the [[STS-109]] [[Hubble Space Telescope]] servicing mission, along with the [[Astrotech Corporation|Spacehab]] double module used on [[STS-107]].{{Citation needed|date=December 2017|reason=An external airlock would have fit fine on Columbia's last two missions, but there was no need. Columbia would have carried Endeavour's external airlock on its next mission (to ISS) if they had made it home safely from STS-107.}} Due to ''Columbia's'' higher weight, it was less ideal for NASA to use it for missions to the International Space Station due the performance decreases needed to carry the heavy payloads to the high inclination orbit, though modifications were made to the Shuttle during its last refit in case the spacecraft was needed for such tasks.

===Thermal protection system===
[[File:STS-3 infrared on reentry.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.2|alt=The underside of the orbiter shows a temperature gradient from relatively cool at the edges of the wing to hottest in the middle of each wing and towards the back.|The [[Space Shuttle thermal protection system]] in the underside of ''Columbia'' as seen in a visible (left side) and infrared (right side) image which was taken by the [[Kuiper Airborne Observatory]] on [[STS-3]]]]

Externally, ''Columbia'' was the first orbiter in the fleet whose surface was mostly covered with High & Low Temperature Reusable Surface Insulation (HRSI/LRSI) tiles as its main [[Space Shuttle thermal protection system|thermal protection system]] (TPS), with white silicone rubber-painted [[Nomex]] – known as Felt Reusable Surface Insulation (FRSI) blankets – in some areas on the wings, fuselage, and payload bay doors. FRSI once covered almost 25% of the orbiter; the first upgrade resulted in its removal from many areas, and in later flights, it was only used on the upper section of the payload bay doors and inboard sections of the upper wing surfaces.<ref name="OTPS">{{cite web |url=http://www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/kscpao/nasafact/pdf/TPS-06rev.pdf |title=Orbiter Thermal Protection System (PDF) |publisher=NASA's [[Kennedy Space Center]] Public Affairs Office |year=2006 |access-date=June 7, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110610021002/http://www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/kscpao/nasafact/pdf/TPS-06rev.pdf |archive-date=June 10, 2011 }}</ref> The upgrade also involved replacing many of the white LRSI tiles on the upper surfaces with Advanced Flexible Reusable Surface Insulation (AFRSI) blankets (also known as Fibrous Insulation Blankets, or FIBs) that had been used on ''Discovery'' and ''Atlantis''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/shuttle/reference/shutref/orbiter/tps/blankets.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010210011912/http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/shuttle/reference/shutref/orbiter/tps/blankets.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 10, 2001 |title=Advanced Flexible Reusable Surface Insulation Blankets |publisher=NASA |date=April 7, 2002 |access-date=June 7, 2011}}</ref>

[[File:STS-4 landing.jpg|thumb|right|''Columbia'' landing on July 4, 1982, concluding [[STS-4]], accompanied by a [[Northrop T-38 Talon|T-38 Talon]] flying in formation.]]

Originally, ''Columbia'' had 32,000 tiles – the upgrade reduced this to 24,300. The AFRSI blankets consisted of layers of pure silica felt sandwiched between a layer of silica fabric on the outside and S-Glass fabric on the inside, stitched together using pure silica thread in a 1-inch grid, then coated with a high-purity silica coating. The blankets were semi-rigid and could be made as large as 30" by 30". Each blanket replaced as many as 25 tiles and was bonded directly to the orbiter.<ref name="OTPS" /> The direct application of the blankets to the orbiter resulted in weight reduction, improved durability, reduced fabrication, and installation cost, and reduced installation schedule time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/shuttle/reference/shutref/orbiter/tps/blankets.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010210011912/http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/shuttle/reference/shutref/orbiter/tps/blankets.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 10, 2001 |title=Advanced Flexible Reusable Surface Insulation Blankets |publisher=NASA |date=April 7, 2002 |access-date=June 7, 2011}}</ref> All of this work was performed during ''Columbia's'' first retrofitting and the post-''Challenger'' stand-down.

Though the orbiter's thermal protection system and other enhancements had been refined, ''Columbia'' would never weigh as little unloaded as the other orbiters in the fleet. The next-oldest shuttle, [[Space Shuttle Challenger|''Challenger'']], was also relatively heavy, although {{convert|2200|lb|abbr=on}} lighter than ''Columbia''.

===Markings and insignia===
{{multiple image
| align             = right
| direction         = vertical
| image1            = B747 with Space Shuttle on it from above.jpg
| width1            = 250
| image2            = Endeavour after STS-126 on SCA over Mojave from above.jpg
| width2            = 250
| caption2          = Overhead views of ''Columbia'' (top) and ''[[Space Shuttle Endeavour|Endeavour]]'' (bottom)
}}

''Columbia'' was the only operational orbiter with black [[Chine (aeronautics)|chines]]. These were added because at first, shuttle designers did not know how reentry heating would affect the craft's upper wing surfaces.{{citation needed|date=March 2014}} The chines allowed ''Columbia'' to be easily recognized at a distance, unlike the subsequent orbiters. The black chines were a late modification and were a high temperature paint over the white FRSI. The chines were modified on ''Columbia'' shortly before rollover to the Vehicle Assembly Building in late 1980 for STS-1. The only other orbiter with black chines was ''[[Space Shuttle Pathfinder|Pathfinder]]'',<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Stock Photo - Space Shuttle Pathfinder |url=https://www.alamy.com/space-shuttle-pathfinder-image255442853.html |website=Alamy}}</ref> but it was a cosmetic [[test article (aerospace)|test article]] and only gained them when it was refurbished.

Additionally, until its last refit, ''Columbia'' was the only operational orbiter with wing markings consisting of an [[Flag of the United States|American flag]] on the port (left) wing and the letters "USA" on the starboard (right) wing. ''[[Space Shuttle Challenger|Challenger]]'', ''[[Space Shuttle Discovery|Discovery]]'', ''[[Space Shuttle Atlantis|Atlantis]]'', and ''[[Space Shuttle Endeavour|Endeavour]]'' all, until 1998, bore markings consisting of the letters "USA" above an American flag on the left-wing, and the pre-1998 [[NASA insignia#NASA "worm" logotype|NASA "worm" logotype]] afore the respective orbiter's name on the right-wing. ''[[Space Shuttle Enterprise|Enterprise]]'', the test vehicle which was the prototype for ''Columbia'', originally had the same wing markings as ''Columbia'' but with white chines and the "USA" letters on the right-wing spaced closer together. ''Enterprise'''s markings were modified to match ''Challenger'' in 1983. The name of the orbiter was originally placed on the payload bay doors much like ''Enterprise'' but was placed on the crew cabin after the ''Challenger'' disaster so that the orbiter could be easily identified while in orbit.

From its last refit following the conclusion of STS-93 to its destruction, ''Columbia'' bore markings identical to those of its operational sister orbiters–the [[NASA insignia#NASA "meatball" insignia|NASA "meatball" insignia]] on the left-wing and the American flag afore the orbiter's name on the right-wing. ''Columbia'' only flew twice with these markings, STS-109 and STS-107.

===SILTS pod===
Another unique external feature, termed the "SILTS" pod (Shuttle Infrared Leeside Temperature Sensing),<ref>{{Cite web |author=Dismukes |first=Kim |date=October 27, 2000 |title=Shuttle Infrared Leeside Temperature Sensing |url=http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/shuttle/reference/shutref/orbiter/comm/inst/silts.html |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010116125600/http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/shuttle/reference/shutref/orbiter/comm/inst/silts.html |archive-date=January 16, 2001 |access-date=February 8, 2023 |series=Shuttle Reference Manual}}</ref> was located on the top of ''Columbia's'' vertical stabilizer, and was installed after [[STS-9]] to acquire infrared and other thermal data. Though the pod's equipment was removed after initial tests, NASA decided to leave it in place, mainly to save costs, along with the agency's plans to use it for future experiments. The vertical stabilizer was later modified to incorporate the drag chute first used on [[Space Shuttle Endeavour|''Endeavour'']] in 1992.

===OEX/MADS "black box"===
One unique feature that permanently stayed on ''Columbia'' from [[STS-1]] to [[STS-107]] was the OEX (Orbiter Experiments) box or MADS (Modular Auxiliary Data System) recorder. On March 19, 2003, this "black box" was found slightly damaged but fully intact by the [[U.S. Forest Service]] in [[San Augustine County]] in [[Texas]] after weeks of search and recovery efforts after the [[Space Shuttle Columbia disaster]]. The OEX/MADS was not designed to survive a catastrophic loss like an airplane [[Flight recorder|black box]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bringingcolumbiahome.wordpress.com/2017/03/20/columbias-black-box/|title=Columbia's "Black Box"|first=Jonathan|last=Ward|date=March 20, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://spaceflight.nasa.gov/shuttle/reference/shutref/orbiter/comm/inst/mads.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991217123830/http://www.spaceflight.nasa.gov/shuttle/reference/shutref/orbiter/comm/inst/mads.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 17, 1999|title=HSF - The Shuttle|website=spaceflight.nasa.gov}}</ref>

===Other upgrades===
[[File:Space Shuttle Columbia lands following STS-62 on 18 March 1994..jpg|right|thumb|''Columbia'' landing at the [[Shuttle Landing Facility|SLF Runway&nbsp;33]] ([[STS-62]] mission)]]
''Columbia'' was originally fitted with [[Lockheed Corporation|Lockheed]]-built ejection seats identical to those found on the [[SR-71 Blackbird]]. These were active for the four orbital test flights, but deactivated after [[STS-4]], and removed entirely after [[STS-9]].  ''Columbia'' was the only spaceworthy orbiter not delivered with [[head-up display]]s for the Commander and Pilot, although these were incorporated after STS-9. Like its sister ships, ''Columbia'' was eventually retrofitted with the new MEDS "[[glass cockpit]]" display and lightweight seats.

===Planned future===
[[File:STS-109 launch.jpg|thumb|Space Shuttle ''Columbia'' STS-109(HST-3B) launch, its final successful mission]]

Had ''Columbia'' not been destroyed, it would have been fitted with the [[Androgynous Peripheral Attach System#APAS-95|external airlock/docking adapter]] for [[STS-118]], an [[International Space Station]] assembly mission, originally planned for November 2003. ''Columbia'' was scheduled for this mission due to ''Discovery'' being out of service for its Orbital Major Modification, and because the ISS assembly schedule could not be adhered to with only ''Endeavour'' and ''Atlantis''.

''Columbia'''s career would have started to wind down after [[STS-118]]. It was to service the [[Hubble Space Telescope]] two more times between 2004 and 2005. Following the ''Columbia'' accident, NASA flew the [[STS-125]] mission using ''[[Space Shuttle Atlantis|Atlantis]]'', combining the planned fourth and fifth servicing missions into one final mission to Hubble. Because of the retirement of the Space Shuttle fleet, the batteries and gyroscopes that keep the telescope pointed will eventually fail, which would result in its reentry and breakup in Earth's atmosphere.  A "Soft Capture Docking Mechanism", based on the docking adapter that was to be used on the [[Orion (Constellation program)|Orion spacecraft]], was installed during the last servicing mission in anticipation of this event.

==Flights==
''Columbia'' flew 28 missions, gathering 300.74 days spent in space with 4,808 orbits and a total distance of {{convert|125204911.5|mi|km}} until STS-107.

Though having been in service during the [[Shuttle–Mir Program|Shuttle-Mir]] and [[International Space Station]] programs, ''Columbia'' did not fly any missions that visited a space station. The other three active orbiters at the time had visited both ''[[Mir]]'' and the [[International Space Station|ISS]] at least once. ''Columbia'' was built according to a heavier earlier design with a reduced payload for ISS missions, so it was decided not to install a Space Station docking system.  This made room for longer science modules such as [[Spacelab]] and the [[Research Double Module|Spacehab Research Double Module]], so ''Columbia'' was  used instead for science missions and for [[Hubble Space Telescope]] service.<ref>{{Cite report |date=August 2003 |title=Columbia Accident Investigation Board Report Volume 1 |url=https://sma.nasa.gov/SignificantIncidents/assets/columbia-accident-investigation-board-report-volume-1.pdf |page=11|access-date=May 15, 2023 |publisher=NASA |language=en}}</ref>
<!-- Note: missions are ordered by the launch date rather than the mission number, please do not change this order -->
{{sticky header}}
{| class="wikitable sortable sticky-header"
|-
! #
! Date
! Designation
! Launch pad
! Landing location
! style="unsortable" | Notes
|-
| 1
| {{Date table sorting|1981|April|12}}
| [[STS-1]]
| [[Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A|LC-39A]]
| [[Edwards Air Force Base|Edwards]], Runway&nbsp;23
| First shuttle mission.
|-
| 2
| {{Date table sorting|1981|November|12}}
| [[STS-2]]
| LC-39A
| [[Edwards Air Force Base|Edwards]], Runway&nbsp;23
| First re-use of a space vehicle.
|-
| 3
| {{Date table sorting|1982|March|22}}
| [[STS-3]]
| LC-39A
| [[White Sands Space Harbor|White Sands]], Runway&nbsp;17
| First mission with an unpainted [[Space Shuttle external tank|external tank]].<br />First and only space shuttle landing at White Sands.
|-
| 4
| {{Date table sorting|1982|June|27}}
| [[STS-4]]
| LC-39A
| [[Edwards Air Force Base|Edwards]], Runway&nbsp;22
| Last shuttle R&D flight
|-
| 5
| {{Date table sorting|1982|November|11}}
| [[STS-5]]
| LC-39A
| [[Edwards Air Force Base|Edwards]], Runway&nbsp;22
| First four-person crew, first deployment of commercial satellite.
|-
| 6
| {{Date table sorting|1983|November|28}}
| [[STS-9]]
| LC-39A
| [[Edwards Air Force Base|Edwards]], Runway&nbsp;17
| First six-person crew, first [[Spacelab]].
|-
| 7
| {{Date table sorting|1986|January|12}}
| [[STS-61-C]]
| LC-39A
| [[Edwards Air Force Base|Edwards]], Runway&nbsp;22
| [[United States House of Representatives|Rep]]. [[Bill Nelson (politician)|Bill Nelson]] ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]]-[[Florida|FL]]) on board the final successful shuttle flight before the [[Space Shuttle Challenger disaster|''Challenger'' disaster]]
|-
| 8
| {{Date table sorting|1989|August|8}}
| [[STS-28]]
| [[Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39B|LC-39B]]
| [[Edwards Air Force Base|Edwards]], Runway&nbsp;17
| Launched [[KH-11 Kennen|KH-11]] [[Spy satellite|reconnaissance satellite]]; first launch of ''Columbia'' from Launch Complex 39-B
|-
| 9
| {{Date table sorting|1990|January|9}}
| [[STS-32]]
| LC-39A
| [[Edwards Air Force Base|Edwards]], Runway&nbsp;22
| Retrieved [[Long Duration Exposure Facility]]
|-
| 10
| {{Date table sorting|1990|December|2}}
| [[STS-35]]
| LC-39B
| [[Edwards Air Force Base|Edwards]], Runway&nbsp;22
| Carried multiple [[X-ray astronomy|X-ray]] and [[Ultraviolet astronomy|UV]] [[telescope]]s
|-
| 11
| {{Date table sorting|1991|June|5}}
| [[STS-40]]
| LC-39B
| [[Edwards Air Force Base|Edwards]], Runway&nbsp;22
| 5th [[Spacelab]] – Life Sciences-1
|-
| 12
| {{Date table sorting|1992|June|25}}
| [[STS-50]]
| LC-39A
| [[Kennedy Space Center|Kennedy]], [[Shuttle Landing Facility|Runway&nbsp;33]]
| U.S. [[Micro-g environment|Microgravity]] Laboratory 1 (USML-1)
|-
| 13
| {{Date table sorting|1992|October|22}}
| [[STS-52]]
| LC-39B
| [[Kennedy Space Center|Kennedy]], [[Shuttle Landing Facility|Runway&nbsp;33]]
| Deployed Laser Geodynamic Satellite II
|-
| 14
| {{Date table sorting|1993|April|26}}
| [[STS-55]]
| LC-39A
| [[Edwards Air Force Base|Edwards]], Runway&nbsp;22
| German Spacelab D-2 Microgravity Research
|-
| 15
| {{Date table sorting|1993|October|18}}
| [[STS-58]]
| LC-39B
| [[Edwards Air Force Base|Edwards]], Runway&nbsp;22
| Spacelab Life Sciences
|-
| 16
| {{Date table sorting|1994|March|4}}
| [[STS-62]]
| LC-39B
| [[Kennedy Space Center|Kennedy]], [[Shuttle Landing Facility|Runway&nbsp;33]]
| United States Microgravity Payload-2 (USMP-2)
|-
| 17
| {{Date table sorting|1994|July|8}}
| [[STS-65]]
| LC-39A
| [[Kennedy Space Center|Kennedy]], [[Shuttle Landing Facility|Runway&nbsp;33]]
| International Microgravity Laboratory (IML-2)
|-
| 18
| {{Date table sorting|1995|October|20}}
| [[STS-73]]
| LC-39B
| [[Kennedy Space Center|Kennedy]], [[Shuttle Landing Facility|Runway&nbsp;33]]
| United States Microgravity Laboratory (USML-2)
|-
| 19
| {{Date table sorting|1996|February|22}}
| [[STS-75]]
| LC-39B
| [[Kennedy Space Center|Kennedy]], [[Shuttle Landing Facility|Runway&nbsp;33]]
| Tethered Satellite System Reflight (TSS-1R)
|-
| 20
| {{Date table sorting|1996|June|20}}
| [[STS-78]]
| LC-39B
| [[Kennedy Space Center|Kennedy]], [[Shuttle Landing Facility|Runway&nbsp;33]]
| Life and Microgravity Spacelab (LMS)
|-
| 21
| {{Date table sorting|1996|November|19}}
| [[STS-80]]
| LC-39B
| [[Kennedy Space Center|Kennedy]], [[Shuttle Landing Facility|Runway&nbsp;33]]
| Third flight of [[Wake Shield Facility]] (WSF) and longest Shuttle flight
|-
| 22
| {{Date table sorting|1997|April|4}}
| [[STS-83]]
| LC-39A
| [[Kennedy Space Center|Kennedy]], [[Shuttle Landing Facility|Runway&nbsp;33]]
| Microgravity Science Laboratory (MSL), cut short
|-
| 23
| {{Date table sorting|1997|July|1}}
| [[STS-94]]
| LC-39A
| [[Kennedy Space Center|Kennedy]], [[Shuttle Landing Facility|Runway&nbsp;33]]
| Microgravity Science Laboratory (MSL), reflight
|-
| 24
| {{Date table sorting|1997|November|19}}
| [[STS-87]]
| LC-39B
| [[Kennedy Space Center|Kennedy]], [[Shuttle Landing Facility|Runway&nbsp;33]]
| United States Microgravity Payload (USMP-4)
|-
| 25
| {{Date table sorting|1998|April|13}}
| [[STS-90]]
| LC-39B
| [[Kennedy Space Center|Kennedy]], [[Shuttle Landing Facility|Runway&nbsp;33]]
| Neurolab – Spacelab
|-
| 26
| {{Date table sorting|1999|July|23}}
| [[STS-93]]
| LC-39B
| [[Kennedy Space Center|Kennedy]], [[Shuttle Landing Facility|Runway&nbsp;33]]
| Deployed [[Chandra X-ray Observatory]]; first female Shuttle Commander [[Eileen Collins]]; last launch of ''Columbia'' from Launch Complex 39-B
|-
| 27
| {{Date table sorting|2002|March|1}}
| [[STS-109]]
| LC-39A
| [[Kennedy Space Center|Kennedy]], [[Shuttle Landing Facility|Runway&nbsp;33]]
| [[Hubble Space Telescope]] service mission (HSM-3B)
|-
| 28
| {{Date table sorting|2003|January|16}}
| [[STS-107]]
| LC-39A
| Did not land (Planned to land at [[Kennedy Space Center|Kennedy]], [[Shuttle Landing Facility|Runway&nbsp;33]])
| A multi-disciplinary microgravity and Earth science research mission. [[Space Shuttle Columbia disaster|Shuttle destroyed during re-entry on February 1, 2003, and all seven astronauts on board killed]].
|}

===Mission and tribute insignias===
<!-- Note: missions are ordered by the launch date rather than the mission number, please do not change this order -->
[[File:Space Shuttle Columbia tribute poster.jpg|center|thumb|NASA Orbiter Tribute for Space Shuttle ''Columbia''|650x650px]]
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center; font-size: 100%; width:100%"
!colspan=8| Mission insignia for ''Columbia'' flights
|-
|[[Image:Sts-1-patch.png|center|100x100px]]
|[[Image:Sts-2-patch.png|center|100x100px]]
|[[Image:Sts3-patch.png|center|100x100px]]
|[[Image:Sts-4-patch.png|center|100x100px]]
|[[Image:Sts-5-patch.png|center|100x100px]]
|[[Image:STS-9 patch.svg|center|100x100px]] 
|[[Image:STS-61-c-patch.png|center|100x100px]]
|[[Image:STS-61-E patch.png|center|100x100px]]
|-
| '''[[STS-1]]'''
| '''[[STS-2]]'''
| '''[[STS-3]]'''
| '''[[STS-4]]'''
| '''[[STS-5]]'''
| '''[[STS 9]]'''
| '''[[STS-61-C]]'''
| '''[[STS-61-E]]*'''
|-
|[[Image:Sts-28-patch.png|center|100x100px]]
|[[Image:STS-32 patch.png|center|100x100px]]
|[[Image:Sts-35-patch.svg|center|100x100px]]
|[[Image:Sts-40-patch.png|center|100x100px]]
|[[Image:Sts-50-patch.png|center|100x100px]]
|[[Image:Sts-52-patch.png|center|100x100px]]
|[[Image:Sts-55-patch.png|center|100x100px]]
|[[Image:Sts-58-patch.png|center|100x100px]]
|-
| '''[[STS-28]]'''
| '''[[STS-32]]'''
| '''[[STS-35]]'''
| '''[[STS-40]]'''
| '''[[STS-50]]'''
| '''[[STS-52]]'''
| '''[[STS-55]]'''
| '''[[STS-58]]'''
|-
|[[Image:Sts-62-patch.png|center|100x100px]]
|[[Image:Sts-65-patch.png|center|110x110px]]
|[[Image:Sts-73-patch.png|center|110x110px]]
|[[Image:Sts-75-patch.png|center|100x100px]]
|[[Image:Sts-78-patch.png|center|100x100px]]
|[[Image:Sts-80-patch.png|center|100x100px]]
|[[Image:Sts-83-patch.png|center|100x100px]]
|[[Image:Sts-94-patch.png|center|100x100px]]
|-
| '''[[STS-62]]'''
| '''[[STS-65]]'''
| '''[[STS-73]]'''
| '''[[STS-75]]'''
| '''[[STS-78]]'''
| '''[[STS-80]]'''
| '''[[STS-83]]'''
| '''[[STS-94]]'''
|-
|[[Image:Sts-87-patch.svg|center|100x100px]]
|[[Image:Sts-90-patch.svg|center|100x100px]]
|[[Image:Sts-93-patch.png|center|100x100px]]
|[[Image:STS-109 patch.svg|center|100x100px]]
|[[Image:STS-107 Flight Insignia.svg|center|100x100px]]
|[[Image:STS-118 patch new.svg|center|100x100px]]

|-
| '''[[STS-87]]'''
| '''[[STS-90]]'''
| '''[[STS-93]]'''
| '''[[STS-109]]'''
| '''[[STS-107]]'''
| '''[[STS-118]]**'''

|}
<nowiki>*</nowiki> Mission canceled following the [[Space Shuttle Challenger disaster|''Challenger'' disaster]].

<nowiki>**</nowiki> Mission flown by ''Endeavour'' due to loss of ''Columbia'' on [[STS-107]].

==Final mission and disaster==

{{Main|Space Shuttle Columbia disaster}}

[[File:ColumbiaFLIR2003.png|thumb|Rare Day TV (DTV) imaging photograph of ''Columbia'''s disintegration captured by an AH-64D Apache's gun camera during training with RNLAF (Royal Netherlands Air Force) personnel out of [[Fort Hood]], Texas<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://theaviationist.com/2014/02/01/sts-107-disaster-video/|title = Space Shuttle Columbia Disaster as seen through AH-64 Apache camera|date = February 2014}}</ref>]]
[[File:Columbia Memorial.JPG|thumb|upright|right|''Columbia'' memorial in [[Arlington National Cemetery]]]]
''Columbia'' disintegrated on February 1, 2003, around 09:00 [[Time zone#UTC-5 (EST - Eastern Standard Time)|EST]] during atmospheric re-entry after a [[STS-107|16-day scientific mission]]. The [[Columbia Accident Investigation Board]] has determined that one of ''Columbia's'' wings,  made of a carbon [[Reinforced carbon–carbon|composite]], had been punctured 16 days earlier. A hole had formed when the external fuel tank shed material that peeled off during the launch, and struck the shuttle's left wing. During the intense heat of re-entry, hot gases penetrated the interior of the wing. The likely result was a compromise of the hydraulic system, leading to failure of the linkage to control surfaces. The resulting loss of control would have exposed minimally protected areas of the orbiter to full-entry heating and dynamic pressures that ultimately led to break up of the entire spacecraft.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/298870main_SP-2008-565.pdf#page=56 | title = Columbia Crew Survival Investigation Report | date = December 30, 2008 | website = nasa.gov | publisher = National Aeronautics and Space Administration | access-date = March 31, 2016 }}</ref>

The report delved deeply into the underlying organizational and cultural issues the board believed contributed to the accident. The report was highly critical of NASA's decision-making and risk-assessment processes. Further, the report outlined several potential options for saving the crew which NASA had not considered during the mission, such as a potential rescue with the shuttle ''Atlantis'' (then being prepped for launch for STS-114), or in-flight repairs for the damaged wing.<ref>{{Cite web|title=NASA|url=http://www.nasa.gov/index.html|access-date=February 8, 2023|website=NASA|language=en|archive-date=April 23, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220423035418/https://www.nasa.gov/index.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> The nearly 84,000 pieces of collected debris of the vessel are stored in a large room on the 16th-floor of the [[Vehicle Assembly Building]] at the [[Kennedy Space Center]]. The collection was opened to the media once and has since been open only to researchers.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.redorbit.com/news/space/46632/shuttle_columbias_wreckage_finds_final_resting_place/index.html|title=Shuttle Columbia's wreckage finds final resting place|date=February 8, 2004|work=The New York Times|access-date=May 2, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101113144628/http://www.redorbit.com/news/space/46632/shuttle_columbias_wreckage_finds_final_resting_place/index.html|archive-date=November 13, 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-020104a.html|title=Columbia's Arlington|date=February 1, 2004 |publisher=Collect Space}}</ref> Unlike ''Challenger'', for which a [[Space Shuttle Endeavour|replacement orbiter]] was built, ''Columbia'' was not replaced.

The seven crew members who died aboard this final mission were: [[Rick Husband]], Commander; [[William C. McCool]], Pilot; [[Michael P. Anderson]], Payload Commander/Mission Specialist 3; [[David M. Brown]], Mission Specialist 1; [[Kalpana Chawla]], Mission Specialist 2; [[Laurel Clark]], Mission Specialist 4; and [[Ilan Ramon]], Payload Specialist 1.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Introduction|url=https://history.nasa.gov/columbia/index.html|access-date=February 8, 2023|website=history.nasa.gov}}</ref>

==Tributes and memorials==

===Patricia Huffman Smith Museum===
The debris field encompassed hundreds of miles across [[Texas]] extending into [[Louisiana]] and [[Arkansas]]. The nose cap and remains of all seven crew members were found in [[Sabine County, Texas|Sabine County]], [[East Texas]].{{citation needed|date=February 2018}} The Patricia Huffman Smith NASA Museum "Remembering Columbia" was opened in [[Hemphill, Texas|Hemphill]], Sabine County. The museum documents ''Columbia'' explorations throughout all its missions, including the final STS-107. Its exhibits also show the efforts of local citizens during the recovery period of the ''Columbia'' shuttle debris and its crew's remains. An area is dedicated to each STS-107 crew member, and also to the Texas Forest Service helicopter pilot who died in the recovery effort. The museum houses many objects and artifacts from NASA and its contractors, the families of the STS-107 crew and other individuals. The crew's families contributed personal items of the crew members to be on permanent display. The museum features two interactive simulator displays that emulate activities of the shuttle and orbiter, and the digital learning center and its classroom provide educational opportunities.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Patricia Huffman Smith Museum website |url=http://patriciahuffmansmithcolumbiamuseum.org/ |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110311094104/http://patriciahuffmansmithcolumbiamuseum.org/ |archive-date=March 11, 2011 |publication-place=Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas}}</ref>

===Columbia Memorial Space Center===
The [[Columbia Memorial Space Center]] is the U.S. national memorial for the Space Shuttle ''Columbia''{{'}}s seven crew members. It is located in [[Downey, California]] on the site of the Space Shuttle's origin and production, the former [[North American Aviation#Space program and acquisitions|North American Aviation]] plant in Los Angeles County, California. The facility is also a hands-on learning center with interactive exhibits, workshops, and classes about [[Outline of space science|space science]], [[astronautics]], and the Space Shuttle program's legacy—providing educational opportunities for all ages.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Columbia Memorial Space Center|url=https://www.columbiaspacescience.org/|access-date=February 8, 2023|website=Columbia Memorial Space Center|language=en-US}}</ref>

===Naming dedications===
[[File:Crew of STS-107, official photo.jpg|thumb|right|The crew of STS-107 in October 2001, from left to right: [[David M. Brown|Brown]], [[Rick Husband|Husband]], [[Laurel Clark|Clark]], [[Kalpana Chawla|Chawla]], [[Michael P. Anderson|Anderson]], [[William C. McCool|McCool]], [[Ilan Ramon|Ramon]]]]
The Shuttle's final crew was honored in 2003 when the [[United States Board on Geographic Names]] approved the name [[Columbia Point]] for a {{convert|13980|ft|m|adj=on}} mountain in Colorado's [[Sangre de Cristo Mountains]], less than a half-mile from [[Challenger Point]], a peak named after America's other lost Space Shuttle. The [[Columbia Hills (Mars)|Columbia Hills]] on [[Mars]] were also named in honor of the crew, and a host of [[Space Shuttle Columbia disaster#Legacy|other memorials]] were dedicated in various forms.

The [[Columbia (supercomputer)|Columbia supercomputer]] at the [[NASA Advanced Supercomputing Division|NASA Advanced Supercomputing (NAS) Division]] located at [[Ames Research Center]] in California was named in honor of the crew lost in the 2003 disaster. Built as a joint effort between NASA and technical partners [[Silicon Graphics|SGI]] and [[Intel]] in 2004, the supercomputer was used in scientific research of space, the Earth's climate, and aerodynamic design of space launch vehicles and aircraft.<ref>{{cite web |date=October 26, 2004 |title=NASA Unveils Its Newest, Most Powerful Supercomputer |url=http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2004/oct/HQ_04353_columbia.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041028100627/http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2004/oct/HQ_04353_columbia.html |archive-date=October 28, 2004 |website=nasa.gov |publisher=NASA}}</ref> The first part of the system, built in 2003, was dedicated to STS-107 astronaut and engineer Kalpana Chawla, who prior to joining the Space Shuttle program worked at Ames Research Center.<ref>{{cite web |author=Hardman |first=John |date=May 10, 2004 |title=NASA to Name Supercomputer After Columbia Astronaut |url=http://www.nas.nasa.gov/publications/news/2004/05-10-04.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130317094512/http://www.nas.nasa.gov/publications/news/2004/05-10-04.html |archive-date=March 17, 2013 |website=nasa.gov |publisher=NASA}}</ref>

A female bald eagle at the [[National Eagle Center]] in [[Wabasha, Minnesota]] is named in tribute to the victims of the disaster.

==In popular culture==
A refurbished ''Columbia'' features prominently in a 1999 episode of ''[[Cowboy Bebop]]'', being used to rescue series protagonist [[Spike Spiegel|Spike]] from burning up in Earth's atmosphere after his ship runs out of fuel. ''Columbia'' is depicted taking off horizontally with the aid of small boosters mounted near its nose. After capturing the stray craft in its cargo bay, ''Columbia'' encounters trouble on its return to Earth, including a failure of the heat shielding, finally crash landing in a desert with its occupants unharmed. Following the real-world disaster, [[Adult Swim]] temporarily removed the episode from its rotation.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Edmundson |first1=Carlyle |title=How Cowboy Bebop's Banned Episode Accidentally Became a Touching Tribute |url=https://screenrant.com/cowboy-bebop-banned-episode-tribute-touching |website=ScreenRant |access-date=25 August 2024 |language=en |date=12 November 2022}}</ref>

In response to the loss of ''Columbia'', guitarist [[Steve Morse]] of the rock band [[Deep Purple]] wrote the instrumental "[[Contact Lost]]", which was featured as the closing track on their 2003 album ''[[Bananas (Deep Purple album)|Bananas]]''. It was dedicated to the astronauts who died in the disaster, and Morse's songwriting royalties were donated to the families of  the lost astronauts.<ref name="GuitarSite">{{cite web | url = http://www.guitarsite.com/newsletters/031110/7.shtml | title = Deep Purple's Shuttle Connection | access-date = February 15, 2007 | publisher = guitarsite.com | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070928204144/http://www.guitarsite.com/newsletters/031110/7.shtml | archive-date = September 28, 2007 | url-status = dead | df = mdy-all }}</ref> Astronaut and mission specialist engineer [[Kalpana Chawla]], one of the victims of the accident, was a fan of Deep Purple and had exchanged e-mails with the band during the flight, making the tragedy even more personal for the group.<ref name = "GuitarSite"/> She took three CDs into space with her, two of which were Deep Purple albums ''[[Machine Head (album)|Machine Head]]'' and ''[[Purpendicular]].'' Both CDs survived the destruction of the shuttle and the 39-mile plunge.<ref>{{cite web |author=Johnson |first=Tom |title=Down To Earth – Deep Purple CDs survived Columbia tragedy |url=http://blogcritics.org/music/article/down-to-earth-deep-purple-cds/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110624062505/http://blogcritics.org/music/article/down-to-earth-deep-purple-cds/ |archive-date=June 24, 2011 |work=Blogcritics}}</ref> 

Several songs in popular music give minor tribute to ''Columbia'', and some are dedicated. The [[Eric Johnson (guitarist)|Eric Johnson]] instrumental "Columbia" from his 2005 album ''[[Bloom (Eric Johnson album)|Bloom]]'' was written as a commemoration and tribute to the lives that were lost. Johnson said "I wanted to make it more of a positive message, a salute, a celebration rather than just concentrating on a few moments of tragedy, but instead the bigger picture of these brave people's lives."<ref>{{cite web |title=Eric Johnson's NASA Tone |url=http://www.premierguitar.com/Magazine/Issue/2008/Mar/Eric_Johnsons_NASA_Tone.aspx |website=premierguitar.com |access-date=March 28, 2012 |archive-date=February 15, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120215182257/http://www.premierguitar.com/magazine/Issue/2008/Mar/Eric_Johnsons_NASA_Tone.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref> The Canadian Band Rush made a song 'Countdown' on their album 'Signals' which is about the first Space Shuttle launch by Columbia.<ref>Rush Album Signals</ref> The Scottish band [[Runrig]] pays tribute to Clark on the 2016 album ''[[The Story (Runrig album)|The Story]]''. The final track, "Somewhere," ends with a recording of her voice.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/culture/music/skye-rockers-runrig-prepare-for-their-final-album-1-4016107 |title=Skye rockers Runrig prepare for their final album |website=[[The Scotsman]] |access-date=January 24, 2017 |date=January 30, 2016}}</ref> Clark was a Runrig fan and had a wake up call with Runrig's "Running to the Light". She took ''[[The Stamping Ground]]'' CD into space with her. When the shuttle broke up, the CD was found back on Earth and was presented to the band by her family.

The ''Columbia'' appears as an exhibit within the Pewter City Museum in [[Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow|''Pokémon Red'' and ''Blue'']].

==See also==
* [[List of human spaceflights]]
* [[List of Space Shuttle crews]]
* [[List of Space Shuttle missions]]
* [[List of spaceflight-related accidents and incidents]]
* [[Timeline of Space Shuttle missions]]

== References ==
=== Citations ===
{{Reflist}}

=== Sources ===
{{refbegin}}
* {{include-NASA}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Space Shuttle Columbia}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110417123523/http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3734518559578754313 Last interview of ''Columbia'' crew and memorial service] with eulogy by singer [[Patti LaBelle]] (Google Video)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070829015620/http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=8147866533180818812 Maiden launch of ''Columbia''] (Google Video)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060105050618/http://caib.nasa.gov/ ''Columbia'' accident investigation board]
* [http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/298870main_SP-2008-565.pdf ''Columbia'' Crew Survival Investigation Report]
* {{Cite web |url=http://www.io.com/~o_m/clfaq/clfaq.htm |title=''Columbia'' Loss FAQ |access-date=April 10, 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100727172935/http://www.io.com/~o_m/clfaq/clfaq.htm |archive-date=July 27, 2010 |url-status=dead}} It was compiled by members of [[usenet]] newsgroups [[Space Shuttle|sci.space.history]] and [[Space Shuttle|sci.space.shuttle]], including some employees of [[NASA]] and their respective contractor agencies. Much of the FAQ content has been copied and used by many of the news services without credit given, including ''[[Florida Today]]'' and [[Space.com]].
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20061110151105/http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/columbia_questions_answers.html Space.com ''Columbia'' FAQ].
* [http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/resources/orbiters/columbia.html Shuttle Orbiter ''Columbia'' (OV-102)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190606093616/https://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/resources/orbiters/columbia.html |date=June 6, 2019 }}
* [https://www.nytimes.com/2003/02/01/national/01WEB-SHUT.html ''New York Times'' coverage of the shuttle]
* [[Space Mirror Memorial]]
{{Space Shuttle Mission Link}}
* {{newseum front page archive|event=''Columbia'' accident|month=02|day=02|year=03}}
* [http://www.spaceshuttlememorial.com Space Shuttle Memorial covering both Space Shuttle disasters]
* [http://ghostlightning.wordpress.com/2012/03/14/how-to-do-nostalgia-in-a-badass-way-cowboy-bebop-19-wild-horses/ How to Do Nostalgia in a Badass Way: Cowboy Bebop 19 “Wild Horses”]

{{STS-107}}
{{Space Shuttle Columbia}}
{{Space Shuttle}}
{{Space Shuttles}}
{{NASA space program}}
{{Portal bar|Spaceflight}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Crewed spacecraft|Columbia]]
[[Category:Space Shuttle orbiters|Columbia]]
[[Category:Destroyed spacecraft]]
[[Category:Space Shuttle Columbia disaster|*]]
[[Category:Individual rockets]]
[[Category:Individual aircraft]]