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The '''Space Shuttle Columbia''' was the first reuseable American [[Space shuttle]] orbiter named for the first American ocean vessel to circle the globe and the command module for the [[Apollo 11]] Moon lander, Columbia.

The '''Space Shuttle Columbia''' was the first reuseable American [[Space shuttle]] orbiter named for the first American ocean vessel to circle the globe and the command module for the [[Apollo 11]] Moon lander, Columbia.

Columbia first flew in April 1981, and would be the most used shuttle orbiter until it's loss in 2003 when a piece of foam insulation from the Shuttle's External Fuel Tank stuck the orbiter's leading edge of the wing.  Upon re-entry following the flight of STS-107, the shuttle disintegrated due to the high heat that built up, killing all seven astronauts aboard.  <Ref>http://www.nasa.gov/cente rs/kennedy/shuttleoperations/orbiters/columbia_info.html</Ref>

Columbia first flew in April 1981, and would be the most used shuttle orbiter until it's loss in 2003 when a piece of foam insulation from the Shuttle's External Fuel Tank stuck the orbiter's leading edge of the wing.  Upon re-entry following the flight of STS-107, the shuttle disintegrated due to the high heat that built up, killing all seven astronauts aboard.  <Ref>{{cite web |title=Space Shuttle Overview: Columbia (OV-102) |url=http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/shuttleoperations/orbiters/columbia_info.html |accessdate=May 16, 2015}}</Ref>

[[Category:Space Exploration]]

[[Category:Space Exploration]]