Space Shuttle Columbia lost

The space shuttle Columbia broke apart over Texas on Saturday, February 1, killing all seven astronauts. Communication and tracking of the shuttle were lost at 9 a.m. at an altitude of about 203,000 feet above north central Texas while traveling approximately 12,500 miles per hour (Mach 18). No communication and tracking information was received in Mission Control after that time.

Commander: Rick D. Husband

Pilot: William C. McCool

Payload Commander: Michael P. Anderson

Mission Specialist 1: David M. Brown

Mission Specialist 2: Kalpana Chawla, PH.D.

Mission Specialist 4: Laurel Blair Salton Clark, MD

Payload Specialist: Ilan Ramon