User:Transatracurium/STS-107
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STS-107 was a NASA space shuttle flight by NASA, a microgravity and Earth science research mission flown by the Space Shuttle Columbia, which launched on 16 January 2003. The sixteen day mission carried out a number of international scientific research experiments with a payload consisting of the FREESTAR experiment, the SPACEHAB Double Research Module (on its maiden flight) and the Extended Duration Orbiter pallet. The mission was the twenty-eighth and final flight of Columbia.
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The seven-member crew died on 1 February 2003 when the shuttle disintegrated during re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere. 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 Orbiter, causing an extensive heat build-up. During re-entry the damaged wing slowly overheated and came apart, eventually leading to loss of control and total disintegration of the vehicle.