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.