Launch from Cape Canaveral (
KSC); mission
SH-DM. During the
landing the shuttle broke apart over Texas and all seven astronauts were
killed.
The cause of the accident was determined to be a piece of foam
that broke off during launch and damaged the thermal protection system
components (reinforced carbon-carbon panels and thermal protection tiles) on
the leading edge of the left wing of the Shuttle orbiter, causing an extensive
heat build-up. During reentry the damaged wing slowly overheated and came
apart, eventually leading to loss of control and total disintegration of the
vehicle.
More than 80 experiments were conducted to study Earth and
space science, advanced technology development and astronaut health and safety
were done. There were so different experiments as crystal growth, bone density,
cancer cell growth (cancer tumors growing strong in space) and flame behavior
in microgravity. Four Israeli-proposed experiments are slated for the Columbia
mission. They include the Mediterranean-Israel Dust Experiment camera designed
to measure the impact of aerosols on cloud formations and rainfall; an
examination of the phenomenon of red and blue flashes of light - known as
sprites - that appear during lightning storms; an experiment on the effects of
weightlessness on bacteria; and a eighth grade student chemistry project.
Payload Specialist Ilan
Ramon was involved in these experiments.