On February 1, 2003, Space Shuttle Columbia began its decent back to earth. As the shuttle raced over the Pacific towards the United States, its crew put on their suits, preparing themselves for a routine landing. But the shuttle broke apart while re-entering the Earth's atmosphere over Texas and Louisiana and killed all seven crew members Rick D. Husband, William C. McCool, Michael P. Anderson, Ilan Ramon, Kalpana Chawla, David M. Brown, and ?Laurel Blair Salton Clark on board.
And, this video will show you their last moments alive just before the crash:
So, what exactly happened that caused the disaster:
NASA
Superheated atmospheric gases blasted inside the shuttle¡¯s structure causing maximum damage to the shuttle on reentry.When alarms went off inside the cockpit, the crew did their best to maintain control.
The crew cabin lost pressure which would have caused the astronauts to black out. If not that, then the violent shaking of the cabin would have killed them.
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The shuttle started to disintegrate and parts like wings started to fall off. But the crew didn¡¯t know this. Then the cabin split away from the rest of the shuttle and started tumbling on end.
NASA
Crew even tried to reset the shuttle¡¯s autopilot system.
Astronauts are also thought to have been subjected to traumatic injuries because their helmets failed to protect them.
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The shuttles parachute landing system didn¡¯t work because astronauts have to be conscious to be able to operate it manually.
Even if all this had worked, the astronauts couldn¡¯t have survived the harsh conditions of the upper atmosphere.